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9M33 Osa


NATO: SA-8 Gecko, SA-N-4 Gecko


Overview

9M33 missile

A 9M33M3 missile which is normally encased in a ribbed launch container.
Source: Ajvol - © public domain

Origin
Soviet Union
Type
Surface to air missile
Entered service
1972
Status
In service
Development
1960's
Developer
Soviet Union
Production
Early 1970's - present?
Producer
Soviet Union - Kirov Machine-Building Plant
Number produced
Produced in large numbers
Designations
9M33 (GRAU index for missile)
SA-8 Gecko (NATO reporting name for land bases system)
Notable users
Soviet Union

Description

Introduction

The 9M33 missile is a surface to air missile of Soviet origin. It was developed in the 1960's for land based and naval use. It was adopted in both roles in 1972. The 9M33 missiles were highly capable upon introduction, but today are deemed as some of the less capable point defense systems in active service.

Design

The missiles used in the Osa system feature a conventional layout. Most of the missile is made up of the dual thrust solid rocket motor. The booster provides initial velocity and the sustainer maintains that speed. The HE-fragmentation warhead is located at the front. There are four large control vanes at the rear and four smaller ones at the front.

Guidance

The 9M33 missiles use radar command guidance. This makes them practically invulnerable to flares. Over time resistance to jamming was improved. The 9M33 missiles feature a proximity fuse. Some sources mention an impact fuse in addition. The 9M33M1 and M2 feature an improved fuse with 27 meter range, opposed to 9 meter earlier. The 9M33M3 makes this fuse less susceptible to ground clutter, lowering minimum engagement altitude to 25 meters.

Launch platforms

The 9M33 missile was introduced on the land based 9K33 Osa in 1972. In the same year the naval M-4 Osa-M was introduced, using the 9M33M missile. From 1975 onward the 9M33M2 missile and its ribbed launch container were introduced in the 9K33M2 Osa-AK, with six missiles to launch. This was supplemented by the 9M33M3 since 1980.

Variants

9M33 missile launch

Romanian Osa system launching a 9M33M2 or M3 missile.
Source: www.defense.ro - © GNU Attribution - Share Alike license

9M33
Original Osa missile as used with the early land based 9K33 system. These missiles had fixed wings, were attached to launch rails and came without launch canister.
9M33M
Similar to 9M33 missile but modified for naval use. Used in the M-4 Osa-M naval SAM system, which has NATO reporting name SA-N-4.
9M33M1
Improved naval 9M33M Osa-M missile for naval use. This features the improved seeker, reduced minimum range and improved maximum range of the land based 9M33M2. The naval 9M33M1 retains the fixed wing form factor of the 9M33M.
9M33M2
First Osa missile to be carried in a launch canister. Used in the land based 9K33M2 system with six missiles ready to launch, instead of four. It features the exact same improvements as the naval 9M33M1, but has folding fins to fit into the launch container. This missile variant is believed to have been the most produced variant of the 9M33.
9M33M3
Further improved 9M33M2 missile with a larger warhead for increased effectiveness against helicopters. Also the proximity fuse is less likely to be set off by ground clutter, allowing it to be used at a minimum altitude of 25 meters. Used in the land based 9K33M3 system.

Details

Facts 9M33 and 9M33M 9M33M1 and M2
General
Origin
Soviet Union
Type
Surface to air missile
Dimensions
Diameter
0.206 m body
Wingspan
0.65 m
Length
3.158 m
Weight
128 kg
Guidance
Guidance mode
Command guidance
Interface
Radio frequency
Warhead
Type
HE-fragmentation
Weight
19 kg
Fuze
Contact and radio proximity fuze
Engagement envelope
Propulsion
Single-stage solid propellant rocket motor
Speed
500 m/s
Range
9 km maximum
2 km minimum
Altitude
3.5 to 4 km maximum
50 m minimum over land
25 m minimum over calm water
60 m minimum over choppy water

Launch platforms

9K33 Osa

The 9M33 series of missiles was developed for the land based self-propelled 9K33 Osa.

The M2 and M3 variants of the 9M33 are used in improved versions of this land bases system.

Read more about 9K33 Osa

M-4 Osa-M

The 9M33M missile is used by the Osa-M naval surface to air missile system.

Read more about M-4 Osa-M