Designation:

9K120 Ataka/AT-9

Info
Manufacturer: KBP Instrument Design Bureau  
Product type: Weapons & Weapon Systems  
Name: Anti-tank guided missile launcher  

Development/Description

The Ataka missile system was developed by the Kolomna KBM and is the follow-on to the 9K114 Shturm system. It is a Semi-Automatic Command to Line Of Sight (SACLOS) weapon using advanced radio command guidance signals. All the gunner has to do is to keep his sight on the target.

It can be fired from existing Shturm launch platforms without modification, the 9P149 vehicle for example, and is designated the Ataka-V (V = vertoletny, Russian for helicopter) when fitted to the Mil Mi-28 'Havoc' armed helicopter.

The missile has the Russian Federation and Associated States (CIS) designation 9M120 and is available in three versions:

(1) 9M120 with tandem High Explosive Anti-Tank (HEAT) warhead to defeat MBTs fitted with Explosive Reactive Armour (ERA) systems

(2) 9M120F1 with thermobaric (such as, fuel-air explosive) type warhead for use against static targets such as bunkers

(3) 9A220 with continuous rod High Explosive (HE) warhead containing impact and proximity laser fuzing for air-to-air use.

The missile has a maximum range of 6,000 m and is supersonic. Weight of the launch container and its missile is 49 kg and it can be operated up to a maximum altitude of 3,000 m above sea level.

Tula KBP 9K121 Vikhr ATGW missile

The 9K121 Vikhr (Russian for Whirlwind, AT-X-16) system uses a supersonic laser-guided dual-purpose ATGW/anti-aircraft missile. The Vikhr uses a tandem HE warhead fitted with impact and proximity fuzes. Maximum range is 10,000 m; minimum range is 500 m. Designed by the Tula KBP bureau, the 45 kg missile is only available for use with ground attack aircraft such as the Sukhoi Su-39 'Frogfoot' and the Kamov Ka-50/Ka-52 'Hokum' attack helicopter. The Vikhr has a maximum guided range of 10,000 m and weighs 45 kg at launch. Maximum flying time to 6,000 m is quoted as 14 seconds. There are no known ground based applications for this missile.

Status

Production. In service with the RFAS. It is probable that this missile has been exported.