Strela-10

   The Strela-10 (arrow) short-range air defense missile system was developed as a successor to the previous Strela-1. Production commenced in 1973. It entered service with the Soviet Army in 1976. The baseline version is referred as Strela-10SV. Its reporting name in the West is SA-13 or Gopher. It has been widely exported to Soviet allies, including Angola, Cuba, Czechoslovakia, India, Jordan, Libya, North Korea, Poland, Syria, Serbia, Slovakia, Yemen, and some other countries. After collapse of the Soviet Union these air defense systems were passed on to successor states. As of 2012 Russia operates over 400 of Strela-10 systems. Other operators are Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Turkmenistan, and Ukraine.

   This air defense system has seen combat in a number of hotspots around the world.

   The Strela-10 is based on a Strela-1 (SA-9 Gaskin) it was designed to replace. It is based on a different chassis. The Strela-1 was based on a BRDM-2 armored scout car chassis, while the Strela-10 uses chassis of the MT-LB multi-purpose armored vehicle. The MT-LB can carry more payload. It allowed the vehicle to carry eight missiles instead of four. Four of these missiles are ready to use. Overall the Strela-10 is a more capable air defense system.

   The Strela-10 is operated by a crew of three. Missiles are visually aimed. This short-range air defense missile system can engage aircraft, helicopters and other visual air targets at low altitudes.

   Missile of the Strela-10 was improved comparing with the Strela-1M. It can engage faster air targets at longer range and higher altitude. Missile is 2.19 m long. It is slightly longer, comparing with the Strela-1M missile, but has the same diameter and wing span. It weights 40 kg. High-explosive fragmentation warhead contains 3 kg of explosive material. Missile has both optical (photo contrast) and infrared guidance.

   The Strela-10 can engage enemy aircraft and helicopters at a range of up to 5 000 m and altitude of up to 3 500 km. There is a 10-50% possibility to engage fighter aircraft with a single missile. Reaction time of the system is about 6.5 seconds.

  In 1988 Angolan Strela-10 shot down South African Mirage F-1. In 1991, during the Operation Desert Storm, two American A-10 Thunderbolt II ground-attack aircraft were lost one after another to Iraqi Strela-10 fire. In 2014 during ongoing military conflict in Ukraine, Ukrainian An-30 reconnaissance aircraft was lost to Strela-10 fire.

   The Strela-10 is based on MT-LB multi-purpose armored vehicle. It is powered by a YaMZ-238V turbocharged diesel engine, developing 240 hp. Armor of this air defense system provides the crew protection against small arms fire and artillery shell splinters. There is a 7.62-mm machine gun for self-defense.

   Reload missiles are carried by escorting Ural-4320 6x6 truck, fitted with a crane.

Variants

   Strela-10M, improved air defense missile system. It entered service with the Soviet Army in 1979. Its missile has improved guidance. It distinguishes targets from infrared decoys. Therefore it is more effective;

   Strela-10M2, it is a further development of the Strela-10M. It can receive target data from air defense command posts or nearby radars. There is a 30-60% possibility to engage fighter aircraft with a single missile. Vehicle is fitted with floatation buoys on either side of the hull. It is fully amphibious and can ford rivers and lakes. On water it is propelled by its tracks. Amphibious speed on water is 5-6 km/h. It entered service with the Soviet Army in 1981;

   Strela-10M3, is a further development of the system. It can additionally engage UAVs and cruise missiles. Missile has improved resistance to enemy countermeasures. Warhead contains 5 kg of explosive material instead of 3 kg. It is more efficient against small-size air targets, such as UAVs. These missiles weight 42 kg. These can be used by all other versions of the Strela-10. The Strela-10M3 entered service with the Soviet Army in 1989;

   Strela-10M3-K, a proposed Russian upgrade, based on refurbished BTR-60 APC 8x8 wheeled chassis;

   Strela-10M4, a proposed Russian upgrade of the -10M, -10M2 and -10M3 systems;

   Strela-10T, a proposed Belarusian upgrade;

   Luchnik-E, a proposed Russian upgrade. It has 8 ready to use Igla short-range surface-to-air missiles.