9M120 Ataka
| 9M120 Ataka AT-9 Spiral-2 | |
|---|---|
helicopters |
The 9M120 Ataka (
explosive reactive armor. The 9M120 Ataka system is often confused with the 9K121 Vikhr system, despite being different weapons systems developed by different companies. The former was designed by the KBM machine-building design bureau and manufactured by the Degtyarev plant. According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, Russia exported the Ataka ATGM to Iran, Kazakhstan, and Slovenia.[4]
Development
The 9M120 missile was developed by the Kolomna engineering design bureau, located in
explosive reactive armor. The first units were delivered in 1985 to the Soviet armed forces.[5]
The missile has often been confused in the West with the 9A4172
Mi-24/35 upgrades). These systems are completely unrelated in their design and are in fierce competition. New light multifunctional guided missiles with increased range – up to 25 kilometers – have been developed and received for Russian attack helicopters on the outcomes of the military operation in Syria.[6][7]
Description
BMPT include four Ataka-T missiles with two mounted on each side.[8]
The Ataka missile is stored in a glass reinforced plastic tube, which also acts as its launcher. The missile is reported to be considerably faster than the 9K114 Shturm, with longer range than the original version. It still uses radio command guidance, but the system has been improved when compared to the earlier 9K114 Shturm.
The system is carried by the multiple kinds of helicopters including the
BMPT and the 9P149
.
There are three main missiles that are compatible with the launch system. The first is a two-stage anti-armour weapon that features a tandem warhead for dealing with add-on armor. The second variant of the missile – designated as 9M120F – has a
thermobaric
warhead for use against infantry positions and bunkers. The third variant of the 9M120 Ataka is the 9M220, which features a proximity fused expanding rod warhead, providing the missile with Surface-to-Air capability against low- and slow-flying aircraft.
Variants
- 9M120 Ataka "AT-9 Spiral-2" SACLOS radio command guidance missile.[3]
- 9M120 – This variant features a ERA.
- 9M120F – This variant uses a thermobaricwarhead for greater effect against buildings, unarmored targets, and bunkers.
- 9M220O – This variant is included with an expanding rod warhead for use against helicopters. It is equipped with a proximity fuse to destroy aircraft, and detonates its fragmentation warhead when less than four meters from the target.
- 9M120M – A modernized variant with an extended range of 8,000 m. The improved warhead can penetrate over 950 mm of RHA after ERA.
- 9M120D – An improved variant with a range of 10 km
- 9M120 – This variant features a
- 9M120-1 Ataka – Upgraded Ataka missiles used by Ataka-T GWS.[9][10]
- 9M127-1 Ataka-VM - New air to surface version for helicopters.[11]
General specifications
Mi-28 attack helicopter carries 16 Ataka missiles for anti-tank missions.[2]
| Designation | Description | Length | Diameter | Wingspan | Launch weight | Warhead | Armor penetration, RHA
|
Range | Speed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9M120 | Original variant | 1,830 mm (72 in) | 130 mm (5.1 in) | 360 mm (14 in) | 49.5 kg (109 lb) | 7.4 kg (16 lb) tandem HEAT
|
800 mm (31 in) after ERA | 0.4–6 km (0.25–3.73 mi) | 550 m/s (1,800 ft/s; Mach 1.6), top speed 400 m/s (1,300 ft/s; Mach 1.2), average |
| 9M120F | Anti-personnel variant | Thermobaric warhead with 9.5 kg (21 lb) TNT equivalent | — | 1–5.8 km (0.62–3.60 mi) | |||||
| 9M220O | Anti-air variant | Proximity Fuse | 0.4–7 km (0.25–4.35 mi) | ||||||
| 9M120M | Modernized anti-tank variant | 7.4 kg (16 lb) tandem HEAT | 950 mm (37 in) after ERA | 0.8–8 km (0.50–4.97 mi) |
Operators
Current
Former
Current operators
- Algerian Air Force – used on Mi-24MKIII,[12] Mi 171Sh2[13] and Mil Mi-28 helicopters.[14]
- Algerian Ground Forces – used on the BMPT Terminator.
- Mil Mi-35M helicopters.[15]
- Ka-52 and Mil Mi-24helicopters.
- Mil Mi-35 helicopters.[18]
- Indonesian Army – Used on Mi-35P attack helicopters.
- Mi-171Sh. The delivery started in 2000 and ended in 2003 with some of these missiles possibly being AT-9 Spiral-2s.
- Armed Forces of the Republic of Kazakhstan – 120 missiles were ordered in 2010 for the BMPT tank support vehicle. In 2011, 40 were delivered.
- Russian Armed Forces – Operated on a wide range of vehicles ranging from helicopters to ATGM carriers.
- Serbian Air Force and Air Defence – used on Mi-35 attack helicopters.
- Slovenian Armed Forces – Six launchers were ordered in 2009 and mounted on patrol boat "Triglav" the following year.
- Syrian Armed Forces – used on the BMPT Terminator.
- Mil Mi-35M2 helicopters.
Possible operators
- Mil Mi-35helicopters
Former operators
Soviet Union – Passed on to successor states.
Brazil
- Mil Mi-35helicopters.
See also
- AGM-114 Hellfire – (United States)
- 9K121 Vikhr – (Soviet Union)
- 9M123 Khrizantema – (Russia)
- PARS 3 LR – (Germany)
- Spike – (Israel)
- 9K114 Shturm – (Soviet Union)
References
- ^ a b "Protivotankovyye raketnyye kompleksy". KBM Design Bureau of Machine Building (in Russian). Retrieved 18 July 2014.
- ^ a b c "V.A. Degtyarev Plant: 9M120 (9M120F) Ataka Missile". Open Joint Stock Company V.A. Degtyarev Plant. Retrieved 18 July 2014.
- ^ a b c d "9M120 ATAKA-B". airwar.ru (in Russian). Retrieved 18 July 2014.
- ^ a b c d "SIPRI Arms Transfers Database". Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. Retrieved 18 July 2014.
- ISBN 1-892848-01-5.
- ^ "Russia's modernized Mi-28NM attack helicopter to get new guided missile".
- ^ "Russia mass-produces cutting-edge missile for combat helicopters, says defense firm".
- ^ "UralVagonZavod – Boyevaya mashina ognevoy podderzhki Terminator". UralVagonZavod (in Russian). Archived from the original on 25 June 2014. Retrieved 5 July 2014.
- ^ "ATAKA-T guided weapon system | JOINT STOCK COMPANY RESEARCH AND PRODUCTION CORPORATION KONSTRUKTORSKOYE BYURO MASHYNOSTROYENIYA".
- ^ "BMP-3M with Ataka 9m120-1 anti-tank guided missile Army-2017 12508172 | Army-2017 Show Daily News Coverage Report | Defence security military exhibition 2017 daily news category".
- ^ "Army 2018: Russian Helicopters pitches new Mi-24 upgrade | Jane's 360".
- ^ "Des hélicoptères russes pour l'Algérie".
- ^ Akramov (17 May 2018). "Une upgrade du Mi171 en format tueur de char pour l'Algérie". MENADEFENSE (in French). Retrieved 19 December 2020.
- ^ "Mi-28 Havoc - REDSTARS". Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 15 November 2015.
- ^ Mitzer, Stijn; Oliemans, Joost (17 October 2021). "Azerbaijan's Emerging Arsenal Of Deterrent". Oryx.
- ^ "Analysis: Belarus receives two first Su-30SM fighters".
- ^ "ЦАМТО / / В Вооруженные Силы Беларуси поступила первая партия управляемых ракет 9М120 «Атака"".
- ^ "Janes | Latest defence and security news".
- ^ "Ataka Anti-Tank Guided Missile | Military-Today.com".
- ^ Oryx. "Russia's African Offensive: Russia Builds Up Malian Air Force". Oryx. Retrieved 21 December 2022.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to 9M120 Ataka.
- SHTURM-ATAKA Russian ATGM! (English subtitles) on YouTube
- ПТУР «Атака». Эксклюзивные кадры стрельбы (The antitank guided missile Ataka) on YouTube