The US Navy has been attempting to buy the Russian Raduga 3M-80 (SS-N-22 Sunburn) supersonic sea-skimming anti-ship missile, amid concerns over the potential proliferation of such a class of anti-ship weapon. The US interest in acquiring a limited number of the missiles was brought to light through Russian reports that politicians in the region where the 3M-80 is manufactured claim that the USA wants to buy the weapon. It remains in doubt, however, whether the Russian Government will permit the export of the 3M-80 to the USA. The missile, however, is being offered for sale on the export market by Raduga. The USA has already purchased a small number of Zvezda Kh-31s (AS-17 Kryptons), which it intends to use as supersonic low-altitude targets.

 

Source: Flight International