Information AboutSa-6 Gainful |
|
in desert camouflage. Photo by Nellis AFB .]] The NIIP\Vympel 2K12 "Kub" ( Russian 2К12 "Куб" – ''cube'', NATO Reporting Name '''SA-6 "Gainful"''') mobile Surface-to-air Missile (SAM) system is a Soviet low to medium-level air defence system designed to protect ground forces from air attack. Each battery consists of a number of similar tracked vehicles, one of which carries the 1S91 (NATO designation '''"Straight Flush"''') 25 kW G\H-band Radar (range 75 km' miles) equipped with a Continuous-wave Illuminator , in addition to an optical sight. The battery usually also includes 4 triple-missile TEL s and 4 trucks each carrying 3 spare missiles and a crane. The original system went into production in 1967 . It is sometimes claimed that the SA-N-3 naval SAM system is a version of the 3M9 but this is not the case, as the SA-N-3 is a separate system and, unusually for Russian SAMs, has no land-based version. HISTORY The most famous use of the SA-6 in a conflict was during the 1973 Yom Kippur War , when a number of Israeli aircraft were shot down early in the conflict. The Radar Warning Receivers on the Israeli aircraft did not alert the pilot to the fact that he was being illuminated by the radar. Once the RWRs were reprogrammed and tactics changed, the SA-6 was no longer such a grave threat. MISSILES AND VERSIONS The fairly large missiles have an effective range of 3-24 km (2-15 miles) and an effective altitude of 50-12000m (164-39,370 ft). The missile weighs 599 kg (1321 lb) and the warhead weighs 56 kg (123 lb). Top missile speed is approx. Mach 2.8. Propulsion is via a Solid Fuel Rocket Motor which, when burned out, forms the combustion chamber for a Ramjet in a pioneering design putting this missile far ahead of its contemporaries in terms of propulsion (not to mention other areas). In 1977 a new version, the 3M9M1 ( US DoD '''SA-6B''') was created with three missiles fitted onto a different chassis (the same as that of the SA-11 "Gadfly" , the SA-6's effective replacement) with an integrated '''"Fire Dome"''' missile guidance radar. The 9K37 "Buk" (NATO reporting name SA-11 "Gadfly") is the evolution of the 3M9. For comparisons between the 3M9, 9K37 and 9K38, see the 9K37 entry. An earlier incremental upgrade saw the 2K12 missiles replaced with the 2K12E versions and this system was known as "Квадрат" (''square''). The Indian Akash is a modern missile system based heavily on the SA-6 missile but with a new Phased Array radar, different vehicles and other improvements. ADDITIONAL RADAR SYSTEMS The SA-6 can also be used at a regimental level. If used as such it is accompanied by a number of extra radar systems for air search at longer ranges and lower altitudes, in addition to the "Straight Flush". These systems include the:
The "Spoon Rest" and '''"Thin Skin"''' are mounted on a truck, '''"Long Track"''' on a tracked vehicle (a modified AT-T ) and '''"Flat Face"''' on a van. It is unknown what kind of a mounting does the '''"Score Board"''' have. Without the P-40 "Long Track" mobile radar vehicle, the SA-6 is unable to track aircraft at high altitudes. |
Image:SIDE NETjpgThe "Side Net" Height Finding Radar Photo By
| "http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/encyclopedia/entry/Nellis_Air_Force_Base" class="copylinks">Nellis AFB |
|
Image:LongtrackjpgThe P-40 "Long Track" Early Warning Radar Photo By
| "http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/encyclopedia/entry/Nellis_Air_Force_Base" class="copylinks">Nellis AFB |
|
|
|