The SSC-3/SS-N-2C/STYX (P-15M) is a subsonic Surface-to-Surface anti-ship missile with a  1,100 lb (513 kg) shaped charge warhead and mostly fitted with a conically scanning active radar seeker.  It featured folding wings for naval deployment.  It flies  a shallow climb/dive profile with pre-programmed midcourse cruise altitudes of 25, 50 and 250 metres. Midcourse guidance used an inertial autopilot, with two terminal seekers available, The P-15TG infrared homing seeker was supplanted in production P-27 / SS-N-2D missiles by the Snegir M seeker, and the widely used active radar seeker was used for all weather operations. It was supersonic and is powered by a liquid-fuel rocket.  The onboard sensor was activated at 11 km from impactThe propellant was based on the Luftwaffe’s Wasserfall fuel. This highly toxic and corrosive fuel presents serious handling problems in fuelling up and defuelling the missile.

 While it is too large and slow to penetrate modern defences on warships, the missile remains strategically importantUsed against transports, tankers, amphibious ships and other targets without defensive systems, the missile is highly lethal. Not only does it carry a large warhead, but the unburned hypergolic fuel produces considerable incendiary effect.
 
It was used on Komar class fast missile boats, later replaced by improved P-15M rounds. Later P-15U and P-27 Styx variants were carried by Tarantul Corvettes, Kashin destroyers, and Koni class frigates. The 4K51 Rubezh / SSC-3  coastal defence system was also very widely exported.  China reverse engineered the Styx as the Silkworm, and derivatives of this weapon remain currently in production.

 While the Styx is widely regarded to be obsolete today, and too large and slow to penetrate modern defences on warships, the missile remains strategically important, due to its lethality and wide deployment. 

Launches were allegedly not possible outside a temperature range of -15/+38C°.[1]

The weapon's first kill was the Israeli warship Eilat in 1967. In the 1971 India-Pakistan war, P-15 (NATO name Styx) missiles were used by the Indian Navy during Operation Trident. Four Styx missiles were fired, two each at PNS Muhafiz (minesweeper) and PNS Khyber (destroyer), both of which sank


Source: http://www.ausairpower.net/APA-Rus-Cruise-Missiles.html#mozTocId937963; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/P-15_Termit; http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/missile/row/hy-1.htm; 





















