Vikhr
(AT-9)
The latest aircraft antiarmor missile is the 9A4172 of the Vikhr
(AT-9) family for Ka-50 helicopters and Su-25T aircraft. It was built
in Tula by A. Shipunov's group (Priborostroyeniye Design Bureau), builder
of aircraft guns. The missile is fired from launchers containing a 6-8
pack. Its guidance system combines radio-command guidance during the initial
flight stage followed by laser-beam guidance afterwards. The missile is
a supersonic one with a 8-10 km range, its caliber is 125 mm, and its
weight together with the launcher is 60 kg. The two-stage shaped-charge
warhead is capable of piercing armor of equivalent to 900 mm thickness.
With the switch set in the appropriate position on the pilot's panel in
the cockpit, the Vikhr operates as an air-to-air missile with a radar
turn-on for approach navigation. It is effective against airborne targets
flying at speeds up to 800 km/h (600 km/h during rendezvous tacks).
Sources and Methods
- "Survey of Russian Guided Air-to-Ground and Anti-Ship Missiles" by Piotr Butowski,
NOWA TEKHNIKA WOJSKOWA March 1995 No 3, pp 15-19 [JPRS-UMA-95-023: 7 June 1995]
http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/land/row/at-9.htm
Maintained by Robert Sherman
Originally created by John Pike
Updated Saturday, June 19, 1999 6:37:33 AM