ASM-16 Cetán

ASM-16 Cetán
3D render of the ASM-16
Type	Anti-Ship Missile (AShM)
Place of origin	Inyursta
Service history
In service	2016-present
Used by	Inyurstan Air Force
Production history
Designer	Navayelle Systems
Designed	2012
Manufacturer	Navayelle Systems
Produced	2016-present
Specifications
Weight	5,480kg
Length	11.2m
Diameter	78cm
Detonation mechanism	Impact
Blast yield	640kg Multiple-EFP Warhead
Engine	Liquid Fuel Rocket
Wingspan	1.62m
Operational range	720km
Flight ceiling	35km
Speed	Mach 4.7
Guidance system	GPS/SACTOSAT with terminal active radar homing
Accuracy	~50m CEP

The ASM-16 Cetán, previously known as the ASM-1M3X, is a long-range anti-ship missile in service with the Inyurstan Air Force. Along with the SS-9D Yacún-Borão, it is one of two high-altitude, high-speed missiles dubbed "carrier-killers" in the Inyurstan arsenal.

It is named for the Cetán, a gruesome heavyweight sea monster of Inyurstan lore.

Development

In 2012, Navayelle Systems Inc. was contracted to revive the earlier ASM-1 project. With a renewed understanding of high-supersonic flight dynamics and improved rocket engineering capabilities, the ASM-16 program was successful and entered service with a speed significantly higher and range almost twice that of its forefather.

Weighing on the decision to revive the idea of a high-altitude, high-speed, high-impact anti-ship missile was the fact of subsequent upgrades and improvements on the BM-44A2 Pythón supersonic bomber and fighter-screen capabilities which increased the survivability of a high-altitude attack on an enemy carrier group.

Capabilities

An increased service ceiling allows the missile to complicate (if not outright bypass) the interception by most air-defense systems until it's terminal descent at Mach 4.7. Pseudo-random maneuvering until it's terminal phase also mitigate the use of high-altitude anti-ballistic missile defenses against the Cetán.

As a "carrier-killer", the 640kg warhead is designed to explode just above the surface, sending a "shotgun-like" blast multiple large-diameter EFP metal jet streams expanding outward into the ship below decks. While the warhead could ideally sink even a super-carrier in a single hit, the effect of such a blast is likely to destroy vital systems, hit planes below decks, cause secondary internal fires and paralyze operations in the off-chance the target ship somehow survives.

Speed, RCS returns and flight pattern can be successfully mimicked by the DU-109 target drone.

Derivatives

ASM-16A1: An anti-runway missile with the 640kg EFP warhead removed and replaced with the 89M4 anti-runway warhead, consisting of a 275kg multi-stage penetrator plus four additional 90kg penetrator submunitions. The 89M4 warhead is also used on the ASM-18 Véda Air-Launched SRBM, while the 90kg submunitions are the same used on the CBG-4S "Seíèsma" anti-runway/anti-highway bomb. Widespread unearthing and upending of concrete/asphalt slabs is preferred due to the longer time it takes to repair, and the existing EFP warhead was considered largely useless in this role as airfields lack the below-decks systems to mangle as does a carrier.