Country of origin |
Soviet Union |
Entered service |
1976 |
Crew |
3 men |
Dimensions and weight |
Weight |
12.1 t |
Length |
6.45 m |
Width |
2.85
m |
Height |
2.22 m |
Height (in combat order) |
3.96 m |
Missile |
Missile length |
2.19 m |
Missile diameter |
0.12 m |
Missile weight |
40 kg |
Warhead weight |
3 kg |
Warhead type |
HE-FRAG |
Range of fire |
800 - 5 000 m |
Altitude of fire |
25 - 3 500 m |
Mobility |
Engine |
YaMZ-238V diesel |
Engine power |
240 hp |
Maximum road speed |
60 km/h |
Range |
500 km |
Maneuverability |
Gradient |
60% |
Side slope |
30% |
Vertical step |
0.6 m |
Trench |
2.4 m |
Fording |
~ 1.2 m / Amphibious |
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The
Strela-10 (Arrow-10) 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.
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