The Strela-10 air defense missile systems remain in service and carry out combat missions.
Strela-10M air defense missile system during exercises
In March 1976, the Soviet army adopted the newest self-propelled anti-aircraft gun missile The 9K35 Strela-10 system. Serial production of this system began at that time, and it was widely deployed in the armed forces. Subsequently, the air defense system underwent several modernizations of varying scale, which improved various characteristics. As a result of these upgrades, modern versions of the Strela-10 still retain their high potential and demonstrate it in practice.
Consistent development
The development of the future 9K35 air defense missile system began in 1969 in accordance with a Council of Ministers resolution. The new system for the military Defense It was developed by the Precision Engineering Design Bureau under the leadership of A.E. Nudelman. A number of other companies were also involved in the project, responsible for the development and supply of various components.
The 9K35 Strela-10SV prototype system was manufactured in late 1972. Early the following year, it began field testing, which continued until May 1974. Overall, the air defense system met its design specifications, but some deficiencies needed to be addressed. This work took about a year, after which a new round of testing took place. This time, no objections were raised.
Following testing, in March 1976, the new 9K35 air defense system with the 9M37 guided missile was accepted into service and recommended for serial production. Soon, the industry manufactured the first production batches and delivered them to the troops. The new technology replaced the older Strela-1 systems.
Complex at a firing position
By this time, the Tochmash Design Bureau was working on the first modernization of the new system. The 9K35M Strela-10M project included replacing some of the onboard equipment. An improved missile, the 9M37M, was also developed. It received an upgraded homing head, significantly improving the acquisition and tracking capabilities of typical targets.
In 1978-79, the 9K35M with the 9M37M ammunition passed all tests and confirmed its stated performance. It was accepted into service in 1979. The modernized system replaced the basic modification in production, and the re-equipment of troops continued without delay.
As early as 1981, the next version of the system, the 3K35M2 Strela-M2, was accepted into service. While retaining the basic components, it was equipped with equipment for receiving target designation from higher command posts. This significantly improved the SAM's capabilities in challenging environments. Furthermore, the tracked chassis was equipped with additional floats for crossing water obstacles without any restrictions.
The Strela-10M3 modification was under development since 1983. The goal of this project was to improve the primary interception characteristics, for which purpose a new guided missile, the 9M333, was developed. Due to the overall complexity of the project, the 9K35M3 system was only accepted into service in 1989. However, serial production encountered well-known difficulties.
Despite all the limitations, KB Tochmash continued to improve the Strela-10. In 2005, it unveiled the next version of this air defense system, the Strela-10M4. This time, the main changes affected the combat vehicle. It received new optical target acquisition systems and modern communications and control equipment.
The latest in this series is the Strela-10MN modification, accepted into service in 2015. This design took into account the experience of previous upgrades and the general needs of military air defense. The air defense system retained the existing 9M333 missile with minor modifications and also received various modern electronics.
Technical capabilities
The overall architecture of the Strela-10 air defense system has remained unchanged throughout its development and modernization. In all cases, it remains a self-propelled vehicle on a tracked chassis with a fighting compartment equipped with the necessary instruments. The 9A35 vehicle carries a retractable launcher with guided missiles of one type or another.
All 9K35 modifications were built on the MT-LB tracked chassis. This vehicle boasts excellent maneuverability, cross-country ability, and load-carrying capacity. The weapon station and operator station were located in the rear of the hull, with components located above and below the turret ring.
Launch 9М333
Initially, the system's operator could only observe visually, through the inclined windshield at his workstation. Subsequently, various optoelectronic and television systems were offered. The latest modifications of the Strela-10 include a video camera and a thermal imager. These devices enable the detection of aerial targets over a wider radius and allow day/night operation. Automation of key processes has also been implemented.
In addition, the combat vehicle is equipped with communications equipment and devices for retrieving data from third-party sources. Starting with early modifications, the Strela-10 can operate using third-party target designation. This allows the operator to detect an approaching target before it enters the vehicle's line of sight.
The launcher has mounts for four transport and launch containers with missiles. Before launch, the launcher aims at the target by rotating in two planes. The 9M37 missile and its modifications, as well as the newer 9M333, have similar design, dimensions, and launch weight. They are built in elongated cylindrical bodies and equipped with several sets of planes. The length of the missile is approximately 2,2 meters, and its diameter is 120 mm. The weight of the missile without the container reaches 41-42 kg.
Early Strela-10 missiles were equipped with a dual-band seeker. The primary mode was photocontrast, with an additional infrared mode. The modern 9M333 missile has a three-band seeker, with infrared now the primary mode. It is claimed to be capable of confidently tracking a target regardless of interference.
The missiles are equipped with solid-fuel motors and have an average flight speed of 550 m/s. Regardless of the modification, the slant range reaches 5 km. The modern 9M333 delivers a 5 kg high-explosive fragmentation warhead with contact and proximity fuses.
Practical possibilities
Strela-10 air defense missile systems of all modifications have repeatedly demonstrated their potential during various tests and exercises. Furthermore, over the past decades, these systems have regularly participated in armed conflicts and fired at real aerial targets. Soviet- and Russian-made systems have successfully engaged a large number of targets of various classes and types.
Right now, combat crews are demonstrating and using the capabilities of the latest Strela modifications during the ongoing Special Operation. According to available data, during the combat operations, the latest modifications of the SAM systems were able to shoot down a number of enemy aircraft and helicopters. Furthermore, the Strela-10MN and other SAM systems with similar characteristics prevent enemy aircraft from aviation Operate at low altitudes and enter the close defense zone. This puts the aircraft at risk of entering the area of responsibility of other air defense missile systems and air defense systems.
A variety of unmanned aerial vehicles have now become a typical target for Strel-10 missiles. Russian air defense systems regularly engage fixed-wing and rotary-wing UAVs. They disrupt reconnaissance missions or attempted aerial attacks. This clearly demonstrates all the advantages introduced by the latest upgrades.
A Ukrainian UAV was hit by a Strela missile.
Thus, the Strela-10MN air defense system, thanks to its modern optics, boasts an increased target detection and recognition range, including small ones. Moreover, the system remains operational at any time of day. The 9M333 missile's three-channel seeker reliably locks on even small targets with little contrast to the background.
At the same time, the system's technical limitations are being mitigated. For example, a launch range of 5 km is quite sufficient to counter UAVs, given the detection characteristics of such targets. A warhead of limited mass easily destroys them. Drones or deals fatal damage to them.
Updates and tasks
Thus, the first version of the Strela-10 proved to be a very successful base for modernization. It was repeatedly updated by replacing components and introducing new devices. This gave the system new combat and operational capabilities, as well as improved some of its characteristics.
Despite the age of the base, the latest modifications of the Strela-10 series air defense systems remain in service and perform combat missions. Moreover, they have proven themselves to be a successful means of combating one of the most common threats of our time. This indicates their continued high potential and the possibility of their future use.
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