9M114 Vikhr

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9K121 Vikhr
Basic data
Function	air-launched anti-tank missile
Manufacturer	Shipunov
Unit cost	Unknown
Entered service	Approx. 1990
General characteristics
Engine	Unknown
Launch mass	45 kg
Length	2.80 m
Diameter	130 mm
Wingspan	380 mm
Speed	Mach 1.8
Range	8-10 km
Flying altitude	N/A
Warhead	Armor penetration behind ERA, 1,000 mm
Guidance	Semi-active laser
Fuzes	Proximity and Impact
Launch platform	Helicopters Ka-50 Ka-52 Aircraft Su-25

AT-16 is the NATO reporting name for the 9K121 Vikhr (Whirlwind) laser guided anti-tank missile system of Russia. The missile is air-launched from the Ka-50 and Ka-52 helicopters and Su-25 aircraft. It is believed to have entered service around 1990, having been first shown publicly at the 1992 Farnborough Air Show.

The missile is designed to engage vital ground targets, including armored targets fitted out with builtin and add-on explosive reactive armor, at a range of up to 10 km in daytime and up to 5 km at night, as well as air targets in conditions of air defense assets activity.

The Vikhr missile is part of the Vikhr-M system, which also includes an automatic sight, an aircraft launcher, and a 30mm automatic gun.

The automatic sight is provided with TV and IR channels of target sighting, a laser beam channel of missile control, a laser rangefinder, an automatic target tracking unit, a digital computer and a system of stabilization and aiming of sighting and beam channels. The automatic sight provides for target detection and identification both day and night, automatic target tracking and missile guidance, and generates exact information for gun and rocket firing. The guided missile is kept in a sealed launching transporting container and consists of a HEAT fragmentation warhead fitted with a contact and a proximity fuze, an air-dynamic control actuator, control electronics, a motor and a laser detector.

The Vikhr-M system with its supersonic missile having a launch range of up to 10 km and an automatic targettracking system permits the carrier aircraft to leave the air defense engagement zone after missile launch, which enhances its combat survivability. The HEAT fragmentation warhead fitted with a contact and a proximity fuze can engage armored ground and air targets. The use of the proximity fuze makes it possible to engage an air target at a near miss of up to 5 m. It gives the carrier additional advantage for air duels. The Vikhr missile laser beam control system provides for its precise guidance owing to data transmission to the missile in the course of its launch, which is excluded in homing systems. The Vikhr missile control system has high jamming immunity because its receiver faces the carrier, thereby protecting it from jamming signals.

The high pinpoint target hit probability is provided by the automatic target tracking system and highly accurate missile control system that makes allowance for changes in the parameters of the carrier and the target in the course of firing. Salvo fire is possible by launching two missiles at one target. The system is capable of launching the Vikhr missiles against two to four targets at a range of 10 km during 30 s, which increases its fire power potential three to four times.

[edit] External links

Vikhr in action (AVI-clip) - since the site is in Japanese: search for "Vikhr" and click the Japanese symbols around the filename "Vikhrinaction_erdem.avi"