9K114 Shturm

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Shturm launch tubes(right) on the wing of an Mi-24

9K114 Shturm (Russian: 9К114 «Штурм»; "shturm" means "storm" (assault) in English) is SACLOS radio guided anti-tank missile system of the Soviet Union. Its GRAU designation is 9K114^[1]. Its NATO reporting name is AT-6 Spiral. The name of the missile is actually 9M114 Kokon (Cocoon).

1 Development
2 Description
3 General characteristics (AT-6A Spiral)
4 Models
5 Users
6 References
7 External links

[edit] Development

The missile was developed by the Kolomna Machine Design Bureau—which was responsible for the AT-1 Snapper and AT-3 Sagger. Work on the missile began in 1967, with hopes to use the missile on Mi-24. However delays forced the design of an upgraded Falanga system (AT-2 Swatter) using SACLOS guidance as a stopgap. Testing of the missile was completed in 1974, and was accepted into service in 1976. The missile has no direct western counterpart, though it's closest to the AGM-114 Hellfire.

[edit] Description

The missile can be deployed on a variety of platforms - including the Mi-24V, and from 1979 the MT-LB based 9P149 tank destroyer.There is also a navalised version of the missile, the launcher holds six missiles.

The missile is transported and launched from a glass-reinforced plastic tube. The missile uses a Soyuz NPO solid-rocket sustainer, with a small booster stage to launch the missile from its tube.

The missile is SACLOS with a radio command link. The use of a radio link allows the missile to travel much faster and further than if it were wire guided. The radio link is a VHF system with five frequency bands and two codes to minimize the risk of jamming. The system comprises a KPS-53AV 8x daylight-only direct vision sight with an integrated laser range-finder. After the missile is launched the gunner has to keep the sights crosshairs on the target until impact. Appropriate steering commands are transmitted to the missile via the radio link.

The missile flies above the gunners line of sight to the target. With the range of the target determined by the laser range-finder, the missile descends onto the target just before impact. This is done primarily to clear obstacles (instead of achieve a top-attack) and can be switched off. It is possible to engage low&slow moving helicopters with the system, however since the missile only has a contact fuze a direct hit would be needed.

During the 1980s and 1990s a series of tests at the Aberdeen Proving Ground code-named Passive Nova 1, 2, and 3 test fired 120 AT-6 missiles purchased from different East European sources. The results where disappointing — 4% of the missiles fired at targets moving up to 15 km/h hit their targets, while 11% of the missiles fired at stationary targets hit. Tests with later models of the missiles raised the hit probability to 24%.

Soviet sources report kill ratios of 75-85% during the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. Also a Mil demonstration in Sweden in late 1995 using a Mi-28A firing Shturm and Ataka missiles also showed good results—from a hovering helicopter a Shturm was fired at a target 900 m away, from level flight at 200 km/h an Ataka was fired at a target 4700 m away. Both missiles passed within 1 m of their targets. [1]

It's possible there were problems with early models of the missile—it's notable that the Soviet stocks of the missile were rebuilt to AT-6B and C standard by 1994.

The export price of the missile in 1992 was $50,000.

[edit] General characteristics (AT-6A Spiral)

Length: 1625 mm
Wingspan: 360 mm
Diameter: 130 mm
Launch weight: 31.4 kg
Speed: 345 m/s
Range: 400 m to 5 km
Guidance: Radio command link SACLOS
Warhead: 5.3 kg HEAT 400 mm vs RHA

[edit] Models

9M114 AT-6 Spiral Entered service in 1976.
- 9M114 AT-6A Spiral Shturm SACLOS
  - 9M114M HEAT warhead.
  - 9M114F Thermobaric warhead.
- 9M114M1 AT-6B Spiral Shturm SACLOS 6 km Range. 7.4 kg warhead.
- 9M114M2 AT-6C Spiral Shturm SACLOS 7 km Range. 7.4 kg warhead.
9M120/9M120F/9A220O AT-9 Spiral-2 Shturm-VM - see 9M120 Ataka-V