9K33 Osa
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The 9K33 Osa (Russian: Оса; English: wasp) is a highly mobile, low-altitude, short-range tactical surface-to-air missile system. "9K33" is its GRAU designation. Its NATO reporting name is SA-8 "Gecko".
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[edit] Description
All versions of the 9K33 feature all-in-one TELAR vehicles which can detect, track and engage aircraft independently or with the aid of regimental surveillance radars. The 6-wheeled transport vehicles are fully amphibious and air transportable. Engagement range for the early versions is approximately 2-9 km (1.3-5.6 miles) and engagement altitudes of between 50-5000 m (164-16,400 ft). The 9M33M2 "Osa-A" missile extends the ranges out to 1500-10000m (1-6.2 miles) and engagement altitudes to 25-5000 m (82-16,400 ft). The 9M33M3 missile greatly enhances the altitude engagement envelope to 10-13000 m (33-42,500 ft), and as such are also able to fly further (about 15 km/9 miles) but the system is not able to engage targets at longer ranges, due to other factors such as the radar tracking of the missiles. The system is designed for use primarily against jet aircraft and helicopters in any kind of weather.
The 9K33 missiles are 3.14 m (10.3 ft) long, weigh 126 kg (278 lb) and use command guidance. There is also a backup low-light optical tracking system for heavy ECM environments. The latest 9K33M3 missiles have the increased total weight of 170 kg (375 lb) in order to provide the extended range coverage and larger warhead. Propulsion is provided by a dual-thrust solid fuel rocket motor. Both versions feature a missile speed of around Mach 2.4 (peaking at around Mach 3) for a maximum target engagement speed of around Mach 1.4 for the original missile and Mach 1.6 for the M2\M3 missiles. The warhead for the initial and M2 versions weighs 19 kg (42 pounds), increased to 40 kg (88 lb) in the M3 version to improve performance against helicopters. All versions have impact and proximity fuzes.
Each TELAR is able to launch and guide missiles against two targets simultaneously. Kill probability is quoted as being 0.35-0.85 for the Osa and 0.55-0.85 for the Osa-AK and Osa-AKM (presumably depending upon target aspect, speed, maneuverability and radar cross section). Reaction time (from target detection to launch) is around 26 seconds. Time to prepare for engagements from being in transit is around 4 minutes and missile reloading takes around 5 minutes. Each battery of four TELARs is usually accompanied by two reload vehicles carrying 18 missiles in sets of three, with a crane mounted on the reload vehicles to assist in moving the missiles.
Each regiment is also assigned a single radar collimation vehicle on the same chassis as the TELAR (BAZ-5937). This vehicle assists in the alignment of the TELAR's radar systems, ensuring accurate target tracking and engagement.
[edit] Versions
- 9K33 "Osa" (US DoD designation SA-8A "Gecko") began development in 1960 and was introduced in 1971-1972 with four exposed 9M33 missiles per TELAR and a maximum range of 12 km (7 miles).
- 9K33M "Osa-M" (NATO reporting name SA-N-4 "Gecko") was introduced in 1972 and is the naval version of the system with two 9M33M missiles on a Zif-122 retractable rotating launcher and improved performance. It has been installed on Kara class guided missile cruisers, Kiev class VTOL cruisers and also the Kirov, Slava and Krivak classes.
- 9K33M2 "Osa-AK" (US DoD designation SA-8B "Gecko Mod-0") was introduced in 1975 with the new six-missile box launcher, each missile being a sealed round.
- 9K33M3 "Osa-AKM" (US DoD designation SA-8B "Gecko Mod-1") was introduced in 1980 with the maximum range extended to 15 km (9 miles) and maximum altitude to 12 km (40,000ft) as explained above. Most Osa-AKM systems also feature an IFF antenna.
- Saman and Saman-M (Russian Саман – adobe) is a development of the Osa\Osa-M system into target drones, used for testing and training with air defense systems, including SAMs.
The 9K33M3 is also able to utilize the 9A33BM3 missiles which are wire-guided, presumably for use in an ECM-heavy environment where the radio command guidance may not operate properly.
[edit] Radars
- "Land Roll" C band target acquisition radar, H band conical scan target tracking radar and two J band pulse mode fire control radars (range 35 km/22 miles for acquisition, 30km/19 miles for tracking and 25 km/16 miles for guidance)
- P-40 "Long Track" E band early warning radar (also used by the SA-4 and SA-6, range 175 km/108 miles)
- P-15 "Flat Face" or P-15M(2) "Squat Eye" 380 kW C band target acquisition radar (also used by the SA-3 and SA-6, range 250km/155 miles)
- "Thin Skin-B" E band height finding radar (also used by the SA-4 and SA-6, range 240 km/148 miles)
"Land Roll" is mounted on the TELAR, "Long Track" on a tracked vehicle (a modified AT-T), "Flat Face" on a van and "Thin Skin" is mounted on a truck. "Land Roll" has a 360 degree sweep for target acquisition but a more limited cone in which it can track and engage targets. Associated radars
The SA-8 was the first mobile air defence missile system incorporating its own engagement radars on a single vehicle, this is known as the Osa TELAR 9A33(Transporter-Erector-Launcher And Radar) vehicle. The SA-8 fulfils the same role as the SA-6 `Gainful', but does not replace it, as they were procured almost simultaneously. The radar system on the SA-8 TELAR received the NATO codename `Land Roll', it was derived from the naval
`Pop Group' radar system but is smaller since it does not require the elaborate stabilisation system. An improved system designated the SA-8B `Gecko' Mod 1, was first seen in Germany in 1980. It had improvements added to the launcher configuration, carrying six missiles in ribbed containers. It was reported later that the missile had also had its guidance and velocity improved, to give an increased maximum range. There have been unconfirmed reports of other possible versions of the missile with both infra-red and semi-active radar terminal homing seekers. The Russians have developed the `Tor' system, designated SA-15 by NATO, and this entered service in 1984 and is believed to be progressively replacing SA-8.
The radar system associated with the SA-8 `Gecko' is designated `Land Roll' by NATO. The system is reported to be of the frequency-agile monopulse type. It consists of an elliptical rotating surveillance antenna mounted on top of the array, operates in H band(6 to 8 GHz) and has a 30 km acquisition range against most targets. The large pulsed J band (14.5 GHz) engagement antenna is mounted below it in the centre of the array and has a maximum tracking range of about 20 km.
Mounted on either side of the tracking radar antenna is a small
J band parabolic dish antenna to track the missile. Below this is a small circular antenna which emits an I band uplink capture beam to gather the missile shortly after launch. The final antennas in the array are two small white rectangular ones, one on either side of the array mounted alongside the I band. These are used for command uplink to the missile. This twin antenna system permits the `Land Roll' radar to control up to two missiles simultaneously against a single target. Furthermore the two missiles can be guided on different frequencies to further complicate ECM. There is also a tubular device fitted to and above the tracking radar, this is thought to be an EO/LLTV optical tracker. This would be used to track the target when the main trackin radar is jammed by ECM. The SA-8 TELAR vehicle is a new six wheeled design designated BAZ-5937, based on a number of earlier six wheeled all-terrain vehicles and is fully amphibious. The initial production SA-8A `Gecko' Mod 0 carried four missiles on exposed launchers. The improved Mod 1 had modifications to the launcher system which allowed it to carry six missiles in rectangular tube containers. The TELAR vehicle has a crew of five with a 200 HP diesel engine and gas-turbine power generator. The vehicle has a maximum road speed of 60 km/h and in water 8 km/h. The road range is about 500 km. When launched the booster motor burns for two seconds, this permits the radar to gather and control it at very short ranges (about 1.6 km). The sustainer motor has a 15 second burn, bringing the missile to a top speed of about M2. Once launched the missile is command-guided for the whole flight, and the warhead is detonated by its proximity fuze or possible command. The warhead is said to have a lethal radius of 5 m at low altitude against a F-4 Phantom size target. The SA-8A Mod 0 missile has range limits of 1.5 to 10 km and an altitude engagement envelope between 25 and 5000 m. The SA-8B Mod 1 has a greater maximum range of 15 km but the same altitude envelope. An SA-8 battery comprises four TELAR vehicles and two Osa 9T217 transloader vehicles with reload missiles. A reload time of five minutes has been reported per TELAR.
Associated radars
Surveillance/Engagement radar
`Land Roll'
Frequency
6-8 GHz (H band) and 10-20 GHz (J band)
Peak power
n/k
Range
30 km surveillance, 20 km engagement
[edit] Operators
Czechoslovakia - one regiment later passed on Czech Republic
Associated radars
The SA-8 was the first mobile air defence missile system incorporating its own engagement radars on a single vehicle, this is known as the Osa TELAR 9A33(Transporter-Erector-Launcher And Radar) vehicle. The SA-8 fulfils the same role as the SA-6 `Gainful', but does not replace it, as they were procured almost simultaneously. The radar system on the SA-8 TELAR received the NATO codename `Land Roll', it was derived from the naval
`Pop Group' radar system but is smaller since it does not require the elaborate stabilisation system. An improved system designated the SA-8B `Gecko' Mod 1, was first seen in Germany in 1980. It had improvements added to the launcher configuration, carrying six missiles in ribbed containers. It was reported later that the missile had also had its guidance and velocity improved, to give an increased maximum range. There have been unconfirmed reports of other possible versions of the missile with both infra-red and semi-active radar terminal homing seekers. The Russians have developed the `Tor' system, designated SA-15 by NATO, and this entered service in 1984 and is believed to be progressively replacing SA-8.
The radar system associated with the SA-8 `Gecko' is designated `Land Roll' by NATO. The system is reported to be of the frequency-agile monopulse type. It consists of an elliptical rotating surveillance antenna mounted on top of the array, operates in H-band(6 to 8 GHz) and has a 30 km acquisition range against most targets. The large pulsed J-band (14.5 GHz) engagement antenna is mounted below it in the centre of the array and has a maximum tracking range of about 20 km.
Mounted on either side of the tracking radar antenna is a small
J-band parabolic dish antenna to track the missile. Below this is a small circular antenna which emits an I-band uplink capture beam to gather the missile shortly after launch. The final antennas in the array are two small white rectangular ones, one on either side of the array mounted alongside the I-band. These are used for command uplink to the missile. This twin antenna system permits the `Land Roll' radar to control up to two missiles simultaneously against a single target. Furthermore the two missiles can be guided on different frequencies to further complicate ECM. There is also a tubular device fitted to and above the tracking radar, this is thought to be an EO/LLTV optical tracker. This would be used to track the target when the main trackin radar is jammed by ECM. The SA-8 TELAR vehicle is a new six wheeled design designated BAZ-5937, based on a number of earlier six wheeled all-terrain vehicles and is fully amphibious. The initial production SA-8A `Gecko' Mod 0 carried four missiles on exposed launchers. The improved Mod 1 had modifications to the launcher system which allowed it to carry six missiles in rectangular tube containers. The TELAR vehicle has a crew of five with a 200 HP diesel engine and gas-turbine power generator. The vehicle has a maximum road speed of 60 km/h and in water 8 km/h. The road range is about 500 km. When launched the booster motor burns for two seconds, this permits the radar to gather and control it at very short ranges (about 1.6 km). The sustainer motor has a 15 second burn, bringing the missile to a top speed of about M2. Once launched the missile is command-guided for the whole flight, and the warhead is detonated by its proximity fuze or possible command. The warhead is said to have a lethal radius of 5 m at low altitude against a F-4 Phantom size target. The SA-8A Mod 0 missile has range limits of 1.5 to 10 km and an altitude engagement envelope between 25 and 5000 m. The SA-8B Mod 1 has a greater maximum range of 15 km but the same altitude envelope. An SA-8 battery comprises four TELAR vehicles and two Osa 9T217 transloader vehicles with reload missiles. A reload time of five minutes has been reported per TELAR.
Associated radars
Surveillance/Engagement radar
`Land Roll'
Frequency
6-8 GHz (H-band) and 10-20 GHz (J-band)
Peak power
n/k
Range
30 km surveillance, 20 km engagement
[edit] Deployment and History
As well as the USSR/Russia, there are many export customers for this system, including Greece (from the former GDR), Poland, Syria, Ecuador and Iraq, who used Osa systems during the 1991 Gulf War.
[edit] References
[edit] Notes
| Russian and former Soviet surface-to-air missiles |
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The SA designation sequence: |
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