9K33 Osa

9K33 Osa (NATO reporting name: SA-8 Gecko)
9A33BM transporter erector launcher and radar (TELAR)
Type	6x6 amphibious SAM system
Place of origin	Soviet Union
Service history
In service	1971-present
Used by	See list of present and former operator
Wars	1982 Lebanon War, Angolan Civil War, Persian Gulf War, 2008 Russo-Georgian war, 2011 Libyan civil war
Production history
Designer	NII-20 Research Institute
Designed	1960-1972
Manufacturer	Znamya Truda Plant
Produced	1970-1988
Number built	1200
Variants	OSA-A, OSA-AK, OSA-AKM, OSA-M
Specifications (OSA-AKM)
Weight	17.5 tonnes
Length	9.14 m
Width	2.75 m
Height	4.20 m (radar mast stowed)
Crew	5 soldiers
Main armament	6 9M33, 9M33M1, 9M33M2 or 9M33M3 missiles
Engine	D20K300 diesel
Ground clearance	400 mm
Operational range	500 km
Speed	80 km/h 8 km/h (swimming)

9M33
The 9M33M3 missile
Type	Surface-to-air missile
Place of origin	Soviet Union
Service history
In service	1971-present
Used by	See list of present and former operator
Production history
Designer	MKB "Fakel"
Designed	1960-1972
Manufacturer	Znamya Truda Plant
Produced	1970-1988
Variants	9M33, 9M33M1, 9M33M2, 9M33M3, 9A33BM3
Specifications (9K33M3)
Weight	170 kg
Length	3158 mm
Diameter	209.6 mm
Warhead	Frag-HE
Detonation mechanism	Contact and proximity
Propellant	Solid propellant rocket motor
Operational range	15 kilometres (9.3 mi)
Flight altitude	12,000 metres (39,000 ft)
Boost time	2 s boost, then 15 s sustain
Speed	1020 m/s
Guidance system	RF CLOS
Steering system	dual-thrust rocket motor.
Accuracy	5 m
Launch platform	9P35M2

The 9K33 Osa (English: wasp) is a highly mobile, low-altitude, short-range tactical surface-to-air missile system. "9K33" is its GRAU designation. Its NATO reporting name is SA-8 Gecko. Its export version name is Romb.

The SA-8 was the first mobile air defense missile system incorporating its own engagement radars on a single vehicle.

All versions of the 9K33 feature all-in-one 9A33 transporter erector launcher and radar (TELAR) vehicles which can detect, track and engage aircraft independently or with the aid of regimental surveillance radars. The six-wheeled transport vehicles BAZ-5937 are fully amphibious and air transportable. The road range is about 500 km.

The 1S51M3-2 radar system on the SA-8 TELAR received the NATO codename Land Roll. It was derived from the naval `Pop Group' radar system but is smaller since it does not require the elaborate stabilisation system. An improved system designated the SA-8B `Gecko' Mod 1, was first seen in Germany in 1980. It had improvements added to the launcher configuration, carrying six missiles in ribbed containers. The system is reported to be of the frequency-agile monopulse type. It consists of an elliptical rotating surveillance antenna mounted on top of the array, operates in H band (6 to 8 GHz) and has a 30 km acquisition range against most targets. The large pulsed J band (14.5 GHz) engagement antenna is mounted below it in the centre of the array and has a maximum tracking range of about 20 km.

Mounted on either side of the tracking radar antenna is a small J band parabolic dish antenna to track the missile. Below that is a small circular antenna which emits an I band uplink capture beam to gather the missile shortly after launch. The final antennas in the array are two small white rectangular ones, one on either side of the array mounted alongside the I band. These are used for command uplink to the missile. This twin antenna system permits the 'Land Roll' radar to control up to two missiles simultaneously against a single target. Furthermore, the two missiles can be guided on different frequencies to further complicate ECM. There is also a tubular device fitted to and above the tracking radar; this is a 9Sh33 electro-optical tracker. It can be used to track the target when the main tracking radar is jammed by ECM.

A 9K33 battery comprises four 9A33B TELAR vehicles and two 9T217 transloader vehicles on BAZ-5939 chassis with reload missiles and a crane. A reload time of five minutes has been reported per TELAR.