Strela-10 is the pride of Soviet military engineering. The 9K35 anti-aircraft missile kit, also known by the American classification as the SA-13 Gopher, was designed to explore the airspace and destroy any suspicious objects at low altitudes. In subsequent years, the complex was repeatedly modernized.
History of Creation
The first such project of the Soviet military with the support of the Central Committee of the CPSU was the Strela-10 SV air defense system. The machine was created on the basis of the well-proven previous model 9K31. All advanced features were taken from Strela-1, and the rest were carefully redesigned to perfection. In January 1973, tests of the new complex began in harsh conditions. The first check of the air defense system did not pass. The Military Council decided to finalize the model to 9K35. So at the end of 1974, Strela-10 was born. The air defense system (see photo below) passed all field tests, answering positively the question of the advisability of continuing the project.
The main drawback of the updated complex was the anti-aircraft missile control system. According to research, the probability of accurately hitting a target at an altitude of 1500 m was approximately 60%. Similarthe results of the air defense system were also shown at the shooting range on a collision course throughout the attack zone. In 1975, the 9M31 missile and infrared guidance system were improved. After regular tests and reliability checks, the Strela-10 was put into service. In 1976, a wide production of new combat vehicles was launched.
Principle of action and purpose
ZRK "Strela-10" 9K35 is capable of operating in automated mode. In this case, the reception and processing of target designations takes place according to the manual control of the operators. Detection of enemy objects is carried out using a direction finder in offline mode. The attack is carried out only on targets that are in the visual vision of the complex. Strela-10 air defense system is designed to protect units of tank and motorized rifle regiments, as well as foot troops and strategically important points from air threats at low altitudes. Combat activity can be conducted during the march and even at the time of change of deployment.
One of the main advantages of the complex is the availability of chips for automatic evaluation and blocking of equipment from impulse non-synchronous interference. During the last revision, the 9M37M rocket received a special head that closes the guidance system from optical noise. The headquarters includes a radio station, target designation and coordinate reception equipment, a vehicle and equipment control panel.
Tactical and technical characteristics
The performance characteristics of the Strela-10 air defense system are distinguished by mobility and reaction speed. The time the projectile is ready to launch varies from 5 to 10 seconds, depending ondepending on climatic conditions. Reception of target designations occurs in 3-5 seconds. The distortion of data in azimuth at a distance to the object from 6 to 25 km is only 1.5 degrees. The maximum distance to the target with a probability of hitting up to 99.5% is 5 km. In this case, the flight altitude can vary from 25 to 3500 meters. On a collision course, the speed of the rocket is approximately 1500 km / h, in pursuit - up to 1100 km / h. In turn, recognition of air objects occurs at a distance of up to 12,000 m.
Transferring the installation from the marching position to the combat position takes no more than 20 seconds. Full reload time (4 missiles) fluctuates around 2-3 minutes. Collapsing active combat assets takes 3 minutes.
The total mass of the Strela-10 air defense system is 12.3 tons. At the same time, the machine can reach speeds of up to 61.5 km/h on the ground, and up to 6 km/h afloat.
Composition of the complex
The main component of the Strela-10 air defense system is the 9A35 series combat vehicle. It was created on the basis of the MT-LB mobile base. During the modernization, the ammunition load was increased, which contained 4 missiles in the installation and 4 more spare missiles in the cargo compartment. The equipment of the guidance mechanism has also been improved. Now the complex was protected by a 7.62 mm machine gun connected to the onboard equipment by electric drives. It is noteworthy that the air defense system has extremely low pressure on the ground surface, so it can move freely along the highwayswamp, sand, snow and water. The chassis is based on a torsion bar suspension, which gives the car additional smoothness and maneuverability. Thanks to this solution, the accuracy of the salvo and the durability of the launch system itself are significantly increased. Base ergonomics are not affected by spare gear and equipment.
Evaluation of the area of action is made by the 9S86 analysis system. This equipment is designed to detect a target, determine its position and calculate the error for launching missiles. A special radio rangefinder is responsible for analyzing the range of hostilities.
Armament of the complex
The main combat elements of the Strela-10 air defense system are 9M37 anti-aircraft solid-propellant missiles. The projectile is designed according to the "duck" scheme. The homing head operates in dual-channel mode, which allows for optimal proportional control. First of all, the missile defense system tries to reach the target in the photo-contrast mode. If this method fails, the head is reprogrammed for infrared navigation. This makes it possible to respond equally mobile to overtaking and oncoming targets. To cool rocket chips, liquid nitrogen is used, which is stored in special containers sewn into the body. This prevents early spontaneous ignition of the fuse. In the event of a failure of one of the targeting modes, the operator takes over manual navigation, who sends data from the radar to the missile.
Special ailerons, fixedbehind the wings. They are limited to the projectile's angular rotation. It is worth noting that the 9M37 warhead is equipped with automatic and contact fuses. Thanks to this, the missile will self-destruct if it misses.
Main modifications
The first improved variation of the complex was the Strela-10 M air defense system. Installation indexing - 9K35M. A characteristic feature of the model was the presence of new guidance heads for guided missiles. Now the location system selected objects for destruction according to the availability of the trajectory. This reduced the risk of falling into traps.
The Strela-10 M2 model received a modified combat system. The task of modernization was to increase the efficiency and automation of the shock part. Now target designations came from the battery PU-12M and the air defense system. The data was confirmed by the radar, processed and received by the shock receiver. It was also decided to fix polyurethane floats on the sides of the vehicle. The Strela-10 M3 modification was put into service in 1989. Here, the refinement touched only on-board equipment. The model with the letter "M4" received an extended set of a capture machine, a scanning unit, a thermal imaging system and target tracking sensors.
"Strela-10 T" is a Belarusian version of the installation. The development was carried out by NPO Tetraedr. As a result of the modernization, the onboard equipment was replenished with the 1TM optical system, new navigation equipment and an improved digital computing chip. It is worth noting that over the years, modifications have repeatedlywas also subjected to missiles. The latest version of the rocket, suitable for the Strela-10 complex, was 9M333. The main difference from previous models was the 3-mode guidance system with enhanced anti-jamming.
Combat use
SAM was repeatedly used to suppress local conflicts in Angola during the internecine war. According to preliminary data, the African country's armed forces had about a dozen combat vehicles at their disposal. Also, Strela-10 was one of the main weapons in the 1991 Gulf War. SAMs actively participated in Operation Desert Storm. The use of anti-aircraft systems gave Iraq a slight advantage in airspace.
Recently, the complexes were involved only in the civil conflict in Ukraine near the LPR and the DPR.
Export performance
About 500 original and modified versions of the Strela-10 are in service with the Russian Federation.
As for exports, Belarus is in the first place here. She has about 350 9K35s at her disposal. In second place is India with 250 complexes. The third position is occupied by Ukraine with 150 air defense systems. Also among the countries that regularly buy 9K35 from Russia are Azerbaijan, Jordan, Angola, Yemen, Cuba, Macedonia, Slovakia, Syria, Libya, Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Iraq, Czech Republic, Serbia, etc.
