2K11 Krug

2K11 Krug
NATO reporting name: SA-4 "Ganef"

2K11 TEL in transit
Type Transportable SAM system
Place of origin Soviet Union
Service history
In service 1965-present
1965- 1990s (USSR)
Used by See list of operators
Production history
Designer Lyulev Novator
Designed 1957
Manufacturer MZiK
Variants Krug, Krug-A, Krug-M, Krug-M1, Krug-M2, Krug-M3
Specifications (2K11 Krug[1])
Weight 28,200 kg
Length 7.5 m (9.46 m with missiles)
Width 3.2 m
Height 4.472 m (with missiles)
Crew 3 to 5
Armour 15 mm
Engine V59 V-12 water-cooled diesel
520 hp
Power/weight 17.33 hp/t
Ground clearance 0.44 m
Fuel capacity 850 litres
Operational
range
 780 km
Speed 35 km/h

The 2K11 Krug (Russian: 2К11 «Круг»; English: circle) is a Soviet and now Russian medium-range, medium-to-high altitude surface-to-air missile (SAM) system. The system was designed by NPO Novator and produced by Kalinin Machine Building Plant. Its GRAU designation is "2K11." Its NATO reporting name is SA-4 Ganef, after a word of Yiddish origin meaning "thief" or "rascal."

Development and service

Development of the Krug ZRK-SD (2K11) air defense system started in 1957 by the Lyulev OKB design bureau. It was first displayed during a parade in Moscow in May 1965. The system started to be fielded in 1967 and became fully operational in 1969. It was used by the Russian Army as a long-range SAM.

The early version of the Krug entered service in 1965. The first operational deployment version, the Krug-A, entered service in 1967, with extensively modified versions, the Krug-M in 1971 and the Krug-M1 in 1974, which were developed to rectify problems discovered during army service.[1] The upgraded version Krug-M was fielded in 1971 and the Krug-M1 in 1974. A target drone called 9M316M Virazh, developed from obsolete Krug missiles, was proposed for export in 1994.[2][3]

The 2K11 was briefly operated by the Soviet army during the war in Afghanistan in 1979 and 1980, but was withdrawn several months after the initial invasion.[4] In 1997, it was reported[2] that, between 1993 and 1996, some 27 fire units of Krug and 349 missiles had been sold to Armenia. Poland flight tested four missiles in September 2006 against P-15 Termit (SS-N-2 'Styx') targets.

The P-40 "Long Track" radar set.

Description

Vehicles

The TEL vehicles are tracked based on a GM-123 chassis and carry two missiles each on an elevating turntable for up to 360-degree rotation and 70-degree elevation. The two primary versions of the missile in service are the 9M8M1 (former designation 3M8M1) (2K11M "Krug-M") and 9M8M2 (former designation 3M8M2) (2K11M2/3 "Krug-M1"), both of which are believed to be known to the US DoD as SA-4B. The original 9M8 (former designation 3M8) (SA-4A) was first introduced into service in 1965 and followed by the upgraded 9M8M (2K11A "Krug-A") in 1967 before the 9M8M1 in 1971 and the 9M8M2 in 1973. The 9M8M2 actually has a lower maximum engagement altitude and shorter range in exchange for better performance in engaging aircraft close to the battery. Each battery typically consists of two 9M8M1 missiles and four 9M8M2 missiles as well as the following radars:

Only "Long Track" is mounted on a modified AT-T vehicle, TEL 2P24 and "Pat Hand" 1S32 are mounted on GM-123/ GM-124. "Thin Skin" is mounted on a truck. Batteries may also feature Ural 375D trucks 2T6 carrying spare missiles for reloading the launchers.

Missile

9M8

TEL at Ukrainian Air Force Museum in Vinnitsa.
Type Surface-to-air missile
Place of origin Soviet Union
Production history
Variants 3M8 (later 9M8) Krug, 9M8M Krug-M, 9M8M1 Krug-M1, 9M8M2 Krug-M2, 9M8M3 Krug-M3.
Specifications (9M331[1])
Weight 2,453 kg
Length 8.784 m
Diameter 86 cm
Warhead Frag-HE
Warhead weight 150 kg
Detonation
mechanism
 contact and proximity fuzes
Propellant kerosene fuelled ramjet
Operational
range
 55 kilometres (34 mi)
Flight altitude 24,500 metres (80,400 ft)
Boost time four solid fuel booster rocket motors
Speed Mach 4
Guidance
system
 Radio command

The missiles are launched with the aid of four solid fuel rocket motors inside boosters attached to the outside of the missile. Once they have burned and the missile is aloft, a liquid-fuelled ramjet sustainer engine is ignited. It reaches speeds of up to Mach 4 and has an effective range of 50–55 km (31–34 miles) depending upon the version. It carries a 135 kg (300 lb) fragmentation warhead. Possible engagement altitudes range from 100 m to 27 km (330-88,500 feet). The 3M8 missile was designed and produced by NPO Novator.

Optical tracking is possible for guidance in a heavy ECM environment.

Structure of Krug missile system

SAM- Regiment with two SAM- Divisions, SAM- Brigade with three SAM- Divisions. In each headquarter, brigade, regiment and division, is one Control Battery. Each SAM- Division with three SAM- Batteries.

Operators

Map of 2K11 operators in blue with former operators in red

Current operators

Former operators

UK MoD Intelligence assessment dated 1968.

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Almaz/Antei Concern of Air Defence - 2K11 Krug (SA-4 'Ganef') medium to high-altitude surface-to-air missile system". Jane's Information Group. 2008-07-02. Retrieved 2008-08-18.
  2. 1 2 "Krug (SA-4 'Ganef')". Jane's Information Group. 2008-02-13. Retrieved 2008-08-18.
  3. ↑ Boris Dukhov, Anatoly Shiroky, Building combat skills, Military Parade
  4. ↑ Urban, Mark. War in Afghanistan, 43, 66.
  5. ↑ http://inbsite.com/missiles2.html
  6. ↑ http://militaryrussia.ru/blog/topic-532.html
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