Sunburn, the SS-N-22 or P-270 Moskit, gives Sovremenny a low-flying anti-ship weapon with a stated range of 120-250 kilometers depending on variant. Its speed is about Mach 2, with disputed suggestions of Mach 3 during parts of flight, and its flight altitude is roughly 20 meters. Conventional and nuclear warhead options connect the tactical anti-ship role to Cold War escalation concerns. Nuclear carriage on individual ships remains a suspicion, with tighter controls after the Cuban Missile Crisis and no claim that every vessel carried such weapons. The Soviet expectation described here allowed for earlier nuclear use and a longer tactical exchange than Western planners anticipated. One suggested reason for NATO's expectation of rapid strategic escalation is the reliance of allies without nuclear weapons on threats from the nuclear powers.
Notable Point · 54:48-57:12
Sunburn connects anti-ship strike to nuclear escalation
Sunburn's low flight profile, variant-dependent range and conventional or nuclear warheads connect anti-ship capability to uncertain loadouts and escalation expectations.