9M120 Ataka AT-9 Spiral-2 |
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9M120 missile with tandem HEAT warhead
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Type | Anti-tank guided missile |
Place of origin | Soviet Union |
Service history | |
In service | 1985–present |
Used by | See Operators |
Production history | |
Designer | KBM |
Designed | 1980 |
Manufacturer | Degtyarev plant |
Produced | 1980s–present |
Variants | See Variants |
Specifications (9M120 Ataka) | |
Weight | 49.5 kg (109 lb) |
Length | 1,830 mm (72 in) |
Diameter | 130 mm (5.1 in) |
Warhead | HEAT Tandem warhead |
Warhead weight | 7.4 kg (16 lb) |
Detonation
mechanism |
Impact |
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Wingspan | 360 mm (14 in) |
Operational
range |
0.4–6 km (0.25–3.73 mi) |
Flight ceiling | 0–4,000 m (2.5 mi) |
Speed | 550 m/s (1,800 ft/s) (maximum) 400 m/s (1,300 ft/s) (average) |
Guidance
system |
Radio command link SACLOS |
Accuracy | 0.65–0.9 Hit probability against an MBT from a distance of 4 km. |
Launch
platform |
Armored fighting vehicles and helicopters |
The 9M120 Ataka (Russian: Атака; Attack) is an anti-tank guided missile (ATGM) originating from the Soviet Union. The NATO reporting name of the 9M120 missile is the AT-9 Spiral-2. It is the next major generation in the 9K114 Shturm (AT-6 Spiral) family. The missile has radio command guidance and is also a Beam riding SACLOS. This missile's primary variant was designed to defeat tanks with composite armour and explosive reactive armor. The 9M120 Ataka system is often confused with the 9K121 Vikhr system, despite being different weapons systems developed by different companies. The former was designed by the KBM machine-building design bureau and manufactured by the Degtyarev plant. According to the , Russia exported the Ataka ATGM to Iran, Kazakhstan, and Slovenia.
The AT-9 missile was developed by the Kolomna engineering design bureau, located in Kolomna. This company already designed previous ATGMs, such as the AT-3 "Sagger" and AT-6 "Spiral" missiles. The design work began in the mid 1980s. The Ataka ATGM was designed as a successor model to the AT-6 "Spiral", which was introduced in the late 1970s. The AT-9 is a further development of the AT-6. Compared to its predecessor, the AT-9 is more resistant to electronic countermeasures, and has a greater hit accuracy and longer reach. The newly developed warhead allows for increased penetration power and effectiveness against explosive reactive armor. The first units were delivered in 1985 to the Soviet armed forces.
The missile has often been confused in the west with the 9A1472 Vikhr dual-purpose laser beam riding missile used on the Kamov helicopters and Sukhoi attack aircraft (as well as some Ukrainian Mi-24/35 upgrades). These systems are completely unrelated in their design and are in fierce competition.