SA-13 Gopher
The ZRK-BD 9K35 "Strela-10" (Russian 9К35 "Стрела-10" – arrow, NATO reporting name SA-13 "Gopher") is a highly mobile, visually aimed, optical/infra-red guided, low-altitude, short-range surface to air missile system. It is the successor of the 9K31 "Strela-1" (NATO reporting name SA-9 "Gaskin") and can also use the Strela-1's missiles in place of the 9M37. Other missiles in the series include the 9K32M "Strela-2" (SA-7 "Grail") and 9K36 "Strela-3" (SA-14 "Gremlin").
Rather than being mounted on an amphibious but lightly armoured BRDM chassis like the SA-9, the SA-13 is mounted on a slightly better protected and more mobile tracked, modified MT-LB. Four missiles are mounted on the turret in boxes, ready to launch, and eight more are carried inside the vehicle as reloads. Reloading takes around 3 minutes.
Each 9M35 missile is 2.2 m (7.2 ft) long, weighs 39 kg (86 pounds) and carries a 3–6 kg (7–15 pound) warhead. Top missile speed is around Mach 2, engagement range is 500–5000 m (0.3–3 miles) and engagement altitude is between 10 and 3500 m (33–11,500 ft).
Versions
- The original 9K35 "Strela-10" uses the 9M35 missile.
- The 9K35M "Strela-10M" uses the 9M35M missile.
- The 9K35M2 "Strela-10M2" uses the 9M35MD missile.
- The 9K35M3 "Strela-10M3" uses the 9M35M333 missile.
- The latest version is the 9K35M4.
Radar
- "Hat Box" rangefinding radar mounted on each TELAR
- 9S86 "Snap Shot" target acquisition radar (maximum range 10 km/6 miles)
- "Dog Ear" F/G-band target acquisition radar (maximum range 80 km/50 miles)