2K12 Kub vs RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile

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AAir defence

2K12 Kub

Tracked medium-range surface-to-air missile system

BAir defence

RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile

small, lightweight, infrared homing surface-to-air missile in use

First system

Second system

At a glance

Side by side

Length comparisonOne shared metre scale

2K12 KubLength

5.8 m

Length source ↗

RIM-116 Rolling Airframe MissileLength

2.79 m

Length source ↗

Lengths retain their source configuration and measurement scope.

2K12 Kublarger figure on 5 of 5

Length+108%
Wingspan+187%

Measured figures

Head to head

23 of 63 rows sourced on both sides

5.8m

2.79m

Length+108%

All recorded figures & sources

5.8 m

Length

Single source

5,800 mm^[source]

2.79 m

Length

Disputed

Configuration

Details

2K12 Kub and RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile configuration
Specification	2K12 Kub	RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile
Type	Tracked medium-range surface-to-air missile system^[source]	SAM -based CIWS^[source]
Place of origin	Soviet Union^[source]	Germany and United States^[source]
In service	1967–present^[source]	1992–present^[source]
Used by	See list of operators

Wars	List Yom Kippur War Angolan Civil War Chadian Civil War Western Sahara War Iran–Iraq War 1982 Lebanon War Gulf War Yugoslav wars Kosovo War Syrian Civil War Russo-Ukrainian War Russian invasion of Ukraine Yemeni Civil War (2014–present) 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war^[source]	—

Designer	NIIP / Vympel MMZ ( GM chassis )^[source]	General Dynamics (now Raytheon ) and Diehl BGT Defence^[source]

Designed	1958–1967^[source]	1976^[source]

Manufacturer	Ulyanovsk Mechanical Plant (SURNs) ZiK (TELs)^[source]	General Dynamics (now Raytheon) and Diehl Defence^[source]

Produced	1968–1985^[source]	1985–present^[source]

No. built	500 launchers, 10,000 missiles^[source]	—

Variants	2K12 Kub, 2K12E Kvadrat (export version), 2K12M3, 2K12M4^[source]	§ Variants^[source]

Main armament	3 3M9M4(or variants) guided missiles^[source]	—

Engine	Integral rocket motor/ ramjet booster and sustainer motor^[source]	Hercules/Bermite Mk. 36 solid-fuel rocket^[source]

Guidance system	Command guidance with terminal semi-active radar homing (SARH)^[source]	Three modes: passive radio frequency/infrared homing, infrared only, or infrared dual mode enabled (radio frequency and infrared homing)^[source]

Warhead	Frag-HE^[source]	Blast fragmentation warhead^[source]

Detonation mechanism	Contact and proximity^[source]	—

Propellant	integral rocket motor/ramjet booster and sustainer motor^[source]	Solid^[source]

Flight altitude	Max. 14,000 metres (46,000 ft) Min. 100 metres (330 ft)^[source]	—

Launch platform	2P25 TEL^[source]	Mk 144 Guided Missile Launcher (GML) of the Mk 49 Guided Missile Launching System (GMLS)^[source]

Unit cost	—	US$998,000 (FY2014) US$905,330 (FY2021) (average)^[source]

Accuracy	—	Over 95%^[source]

Role	—	small, lightweight, infrared homing surface-to-air missile in use^[source]

Source measurement	—	The Rolling Airframe Missiles, together with the Mark 49 Guided Missile Launching System (GMLS) and support equipment, make up the RAM Mk 31 Guided Missile Weapon System (GMWS). The Mk-144 Guided Missile Launcher (GML) unit weighs 5,777 kilograms (12,736 lb) and stores 21 missiles. The original weapon cannot employ its own sensors prior to firing, so it must be integrated with a ship's combat system, which directs the launcher at targets. On U.S. ships, it is integrated with the AN/SWY-2 Ship Defense Surface Missile System (SDSMS) and Ship Self-Defense System (SSDS) Mk 1 or Mk 2-based combat systems. SeaRAM, a launcher variant equipped with independent sensors derived from the Vulcan Phalanx CIWS , is being installed on Independence-class littoral combat ships and certain Arleigh Burke -class destroyers .^[source]RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile · Lead; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage The Block 2 (RIM-116C) is an upgraded version of the RAM missile aimed at more effectively countering more maneuverable anti-ship missiles through a four-axis independent control actuator system, increased rocket motor capability to 15.8 cm (6.25–inch) diameter, an improved passive radio frequency seeker and upgraded components of the infrared seeker, and advanced kinematics. On 8 May 2007, the U.S. Navy awarded Raytheon Missile Systems a $105 million development contract. Development was expected to be completed by December 2010. LRIP began in 2012.^[source]RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile · Variants / Block 2; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage Length: 2.79 m (9 ft 2 in)^[source]RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile · General characteristics; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage Diameter: 127 mm (5.0 in)^[source]RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile · General characteristics; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage Fin span: 434 mm (1 ft 5.1 in)^[source]RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile · General characteristics; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage Warhead: 11.3 kg (24.9 lb) blast fragmentation with 7.9 lb (3.6 kg) High-Explosive^[source]RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile · General characteristics; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage Launch weight: 73.5 kg (162 lb)^[source]RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile · General characteristics; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage Range: 10 km (6.2 mi)^[source]RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile · General characteristics; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage Length: 9.3 ft (2.83 m)^[source]RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile · General characteristics; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage Diameter: 5 in (12.70 cm)^[source]RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile · General characteristics; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage Wingspan: 17.5 in (44.45 cm)^[source]RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile · General characteristics; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage Weight: 164 lb (74.4 kg)^[source]RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile · General characteristics; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage Length: 9.45 ft (2.88 m)^[source]RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile · General characteristics; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage Diameter: 6.25 in (15.88 cm)^[source]RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile · General characteristics; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage Wingspan: 12.65 in (32.13 cm)^[source]RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile · General characteristics; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage Weight: 194.4 lb (88.2 kg)^[source]RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile · General characteristics; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage

Source measurement

—

The Rolling Airframe Missiles, together with the Mark 49 Guided Missile Launching System (GMLS) and support equipment, make up the RAM Mk 31 Guided Missile Weapon System (GMWS). The Mk-144 Guided Missile Launcher (GML) unit weighs 5,777 kilograms (12,736 lb) and stores 21 missiles. The original weapon cannot employ its own sensors prior to firing, so it must be integrated with a ship's combat system, which directs the launcher at targets. On U.S. ships, it is integrated with the AN/SWY-2 Ship Defense Surface Missile System (SDSMS) and Ship Self-Defense System (SSDS) Mk 1 or Mk 2-based combat systems. SeaRAM, a launcher variant equipped with independent sensors derived from the Vulcan Phalanx CIWS , is being installed on Independence-class littoral combat ships and certain Arleigh Burke -class destroyers .^[source]RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile · Lead; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage

The Block 2 (RIM-116C) is an upgraded version of the RAM missile aimed at more effectively countering more maneuverable anti-ship missiles through a four-axis independent control actuator system, increased rocket motor capability to 15.8 cm (6.25–inch) diameter, an improved passive radio frequency seeker and upgraded components of the infrared seeker, and advanced kinematics. On 8 May 2007, the U.S. Navy awarded Raytheon Missile Systems a $105 million development contract. Development was expected to be completed by December 2010. LRIP began in 2012.^[source]RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile · Variants / Block 2; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage

Length: 2.79 m (9 ft 2 in)^[source]RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile · General characteristics; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage

Diameter: 127 mm (5.0 in)^[source]RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile · General characteristics; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage

Fin span: 434 mm (1 ft 5.1 in)^[source]RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile · General characteristics; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage

Warhead: 11.3 kg (24.9 lb) blast fragmentation with 7.9 lb (3.6 kg) High-Explosive^[source]RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile · General characteristics; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage

Launch weight: 73.5 kg (162 lb)^[source]RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile · General characteristics; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage

Range: 10 km (6.2 mi)^[source]RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile · General characteristics; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage

Length: 9.3 ft (2.83 m)^[source]RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile · General characteristics; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage

Diameter: 5 in (12.70 cm)^[source]RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile · General characteristics; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage

Wingspan: 17.5 in (44.45 cm)^[source]RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile · General characteristics; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage

Weight: 164 lb (74.4 kg)^[source]RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile · General characteristics; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage

Length: 9.45 ft (2.88 m)^[source]RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile · General characteristics; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage

Diameter: 6.25 in (15.88 cm)^[source]RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile · General characteristics; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage

Wingspan: 12.65 in (32.13 cm)^[source]RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile · General characteristics; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage

Weight: 194.4 lb (88.2 kg)^[source]RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile · General characteristics; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage

Launch weight	—	Launch weight: 73.5 kg (162 lb)^[source]RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile · General characteristics · Launch weight: 73.5 kg (162 lb)

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