9K121 Vikhr
| 9K121 Vikhr | |
|---|---|
Vikhr missiles.
|
|
| Type | air-launched anti-tank missile |
| Place of origin |
 Russia
|
| Service history | |
| In service | 1985 – present |
| Used by |
Russia Russian Air Force Egypt Egyptian Air Force
|
| Production history | |
| Manufacturer | KBP Instrument Design Bureau |
| Unit cost | Unknown |
| Produced | 1985 – present |
| Specifications | |
| Weight | 45 kg |
| Length | 2.80 m |
| Diameter | 130 mm |
| Warhead | 8-12 kg tandem HEAT charge, armor penetration behind ERA, 1,000 mm |
|
Detonation
mechanism |
Proximity and Impact |
|
|
|
| Engine | solid-fuel rocket |
| Wingspan | 380 mm |
| Propellant | solid fuel |
|
Operational
range |
8-10 km |
| Speed | 600m/s, Mach 1.8 |
|
Guidance
system |
Laser beam riding |
|
Launch
platform |
Helicopters Aircraft Ships
|
Helicopters
Aircraft
Ships
9K121 Vikhr (Russian: Вихрь, English: Whirlwind; NATO reporting name: AT-16 Scallion) is a Russian laser guided anti-tank missile. "9K121" is the GRAU designation for the missile system. The missile is launched from ships, Ka-50, Ka-52 helicopters and Su-25T aircraft. It was first shown publicly at the 1992 Farnborough Airshow.
The missile is designed to engage vital ground targets, including armoured targets fitted out with built-in and add-on explosive reactive armor, at a range of up to 8 km when fired from a helicopter and 10 km when fired from a fixed-wing aircraft in daytime and up to 5 km at night, as well as air targets in conditions of air defense assets activity.
The Vikhr-1 missile is part of the Vikhr-M system, which also includes an automatic sight and a depressible launcher. Adopted in 1990.
The automatic sight is provided with TV and IR channels for target sighting, a laser beam channel for missile control, a laser rangefinder, an automatic target tracking unit, a digital computer and a system for stabilization and aiming the sighting and beam channels. The automatic sight provides for target detection and identification both by day and night, automatic target tracking and missile guidance, and generates exact information for gun and rocket firing. The guided missile consists of a HEAT fragmentation warhead fitted with a contact and a proximity fuze, an air-dynamic control actuator, control electronics, a motor and laser detector. It is kept in a sealed launching transporting container.
The multi-purpose warhead (two-stage HEAT and an additional fragmentation sleeve) allows the missile to be used against armoured, airborne and area targets alike. This is an advantage compared to the three different missiles required in the 9M120 Ataka-V complex. The use of the proximity fuze allows a near miss of up to 5 m and makes it possible to engage an air target at speeds of 500 m/s.
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Wikipedia