SA-9 (Gaskin) / 9K31 Strela-1 4x4 Mobile Anti-Aircraft Missile System (1968)
The Cold War-era SA-9 Gaskin missile defense system is still in use with nations worldwide.
The SA-9 carrier vehicle (or "TEL" - Transporter Erector Launcher) is a modified BRDM-2 amphibious armored vehicle. It sports four large road wheels but does away with the original's "belly" mounted wheels. The chassis weighs approximately 7 tons and is powered by a single GAZ 41 series V8 water-cooled gasoline engine delivering 140 horsepower at 3,400 rpm. Crew accommodations amount to three personnel made up of the driver, commander and gunner. The driver and commander are both afforded infrared vision systems. The entire crew is protected from small arms fire by way of armor thickness ranging from 5- to 14-mm as well as complete NBC (Nuclear, Biological and Chemical) protection. Operational range is listed at 750 kilometers while a top speed of 100 kilometers per hour is list. As the SA-9 carrier is born from the BRDM-2, it can also traverse water and hit speeds of up to 10 kilometers per hour in this fashion. When off road, the SA-9 can utilize its grand 0.43 meter ground clearance and 4x4 wheels to good effect. The turret is designed in such a way that it can be brought down against the top of the vehicle for travel or reloading of the missile launchers. Besides the turret, however, the appearance is generally that of the base BRDM-2 scout car.
The 9M31 Strela-1 surface-to-air missile is the heart of the SA-9. It is a single-stage solid propellant rocket-powered projectile utilizing a passive IR homing seeker guidance system. Top speed is a reported Mach 1.8 and operational range is roughly 4 miles with an operational ceiling of 11,000 feet. The warhead is of a Frag-HE classification and weighs in at 2.6 kilograms. Detonation is provided via RF proximity. Total length is approximately 5.4 feet. The 9M31 has also been developed into the 9M31M variant which features a 5 mile range and a 20,000 foot operating ceiling. Either missile type takes just five minutes for the crew to reload. Interestingly, most SA-9s did not carry reload missiles. Typical launching actions would see the SA-9 operator fire off two missiles for an increased hit probability. By classification, the SA-9 is a low-altitude, shot-range air defense system and not an end-all solution.
The 9M31 Strela-1 missile was developed concurrently with the 9K32M Strela-2 and both were intended to be small, man-portable weapon systems by project's end. However, the Strela-2 advanced into a more compact design which led to the decision of making the Strela-1 the heavier of the two. As such, the Strela-1 mounted a larger warhead and provided better maneuverability and slightly better range at the expense of additional drag. It was envisioned that the new missile would be fitted to a turret system atop the proven BRDM-2 and be fielded to provide protection to the vulnerable ZSU-23-4 "Shilka" tracked anti-aircraft weapon systems at the regiment level. Four SA-9 Gaskins would back up four ZSU-23-4 Shilkas.
Notable operators of the SA-9 include Cuba, Croatia; Egypt, India; Libya; Poland, Serbia, Syria, Ukraine, Vietnam and Yemen. Former notable operators include Czechoslovakia and Iraq.
The SA-9 has been used in a variety of conflicts during its tenure and include the Arab-Israeli wars, Lebanon wars, the Iran-Iraq War, the Yugoslav wars and the 2003 Invasion of Iraq (fighting alongside Iraqi Army forces).
An improved SA-9 entered service in 1970 as the SA-9B "Haskin-Mod0" (Soviet designation of 9M31M-1M). Text ©2003-2013 www.MilitaryFactory.com • All Rights Reserved • No Reproduction Permitted
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Specifications for the
SA-9 (Gaskin) / 9K31 Strela-1
4x4 Mobile Anti-Aircraft Missile System
Country of Origin: Soviet Union
Manufacturer: State Factories - Soviet Union
Initial Year of Service: 1968
Production: 1,700
Focus Model: SA-9 (Gaskin) / 9K31 Strela-1
Crew: 3
Overall Length: 19.03ft (5.80m)
Width: 7.87ft (2.40m)
Height: 7.55ft (2.30m)
Weight: 7.7 US Short Tons (7,000kg; 15,432lbs)
Powerplant: 1 x GAZ 41 V8 water-cooled gasoline engine developing 140 horsepower at 3,400 rpm.
Maximum Speed: 62mph (100 km/h)
Maximum Range: 466 miles (750 km)
NBC Protection: Yes
Nightvision: Yes - Driver and Commander
Armament:
4 x SA-9A "Gaskin MOD 0" / 9M31 short-range, infra-red guided surface-to-air missiles.
Ammunition:
Usually no backup missiles.
Variants:
9K31 - Base Production Model
9K31M - Improved Production Model
ROMARM TABC-79
Operators: Algeria; Angola; Armenia; Benin; Bulgaria; Cuba; Croatia; Czechoslovakia; Egypt; Ethiopia; Hungary; India; Iraq; Libya; Mongolia; Mauritania; Mozambique; Nicaragua; Poland; Romania; Serbia; Slovenia; Soviet Union; Syria; Uganda; Ukraine; Uzbekistan; Vietnam; Yemen
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