9K33 Osa

9K33M3 (SA-8 Gecko) TELAR. Photo by Naval Expeditionary Warfare Training.

The Antey 9K33 "Osa" (Russian Оса – wasp, NATO reporting name SA-8 "Gecko") is a highly mobile, low-altitude, short-range tactical surface-to-air missile system.

Contents

1 Description
2 Versions
3 Radars
4 Deployment and History
5 References

Description

9K33M3 in desert camouflage. Photo by Iron Horse, 11th ACR.

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.

9K33M3 from another angle. Photo by Nellis AFB.

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.

Versions

SA-N-4 launcher covered by a circular plate on the Slava class cruiser Marshal Ustinov.

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.

Radars

P-40 'Long Track' radar set. Photo by Nellis AFB.

"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.

Deployment and History

As well as the USSR/Russia, there are many export customers for this system, including Poland and Iraq, who used Osa systems during the 1991 Gulf War.

References

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