9K38 Igla

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Description

The SA-18 Grouse or Igla or 9K38 is a Russian made man-portable infrared homing surface-to-air missile defence system (SAM/MANPAD). This is a third-generation, man-portable, surface-to-air missile system and it is given the Russian industrial index number 9K38, for the complete system. The SA-18 Grouse with its 9M39 missile was accepted into service in the Soviet Army in 1983. The main improvements over the Igla-1 (SA-16 Gimlet) included much improved resistance against flares and jamming, a more sensitive seeker, expanding forward-hemisphere engagement capability to include straight-approaching fighters (all-aspect capability) under favourable circumstances, a slightly longer range, a higher-impulse, shorter-burning rocket with higher peak velocity (but approximately same time of flight to maximum range), and a propellant that performs as high explosive when detonated by the warhead's secondary charge on impact.

Variants

- Igla-M: Naval version of the SA-18 Grouse

Technical Data

Design The SA-18 Grouse missile system features automatic input of lead and elevation angles, in-depth detonation of the warhead, detonation-capable propellant in the propulsion unit and a bias circuit in the homing head that ensures a hit at the most vulnerable target elements. As with the earlier russian portable manpads family, the SA-18 uses of a similar thermal battery/gas bottle, and the SA-18 has the same 2 kilogram high-explosive warhead fitted with a contact and grazing fuse. But the missile of entirely new design with substantially improved range and speed. SA-18 Grouse features a dual-channel IR seeker and highly sophisticated FM-tracking logic target discrimination selection unit to defeat sophisticated (pyrotechnically, blinking and modulated) IR decoys.The new seeker and aerodynamic improvements extend its effective range, and its higher speed enables it to be used against faster targets. The seeker is believed to operate in the 1.5 to 2.5 and 3.0 to 5.0 µm infra-red waveband regions. Missile The SA-18 uses the 9M39 missile. The 9M39 missile SA-18 employs an IR guidance system using proportional convergence logic. The new seeker offers better protection against electro-optical jammers; the probability of kill against an unprotected fighter is estimated at 30-48%, and the use of IRCM jammers only degrades this to 24-30%. Operations When engaging slow or straight-receding targets, the operator tracks the target with the iron sights in the launch tube and applies half-trigger. The shooter then pulls the trigger fully, and immediately applies lead and super elevation. This method is called a manual engagement. An automatic mode, which is used against fast targets, allows the shooter to fully depress the trigger in one pull followed by immediate lead and super elevation of the launch tube. Combat use The SA-18 Grouse is Intended to engage low-flying targets on head-on and pursuit courses in clutter and IR jamming environments. The Igla system comprises a missile kept in a launch tube with a power supply source, launch mechanism, training aids and maintenance facilities. Specifications Armament One 9M39 missile Country users Armenia, Belarus, Brazil, Bulgaria, Egypt, Finland, Goerogia, Hungary, Indonesia, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Macedonia, Myanmar, Malaysia, Mexico, Morocco, Mongolia, peru, Russia, Singapore, Serbia, Sri Lanka, Slovakia, South Korea, Syria, Thailand, Turkey, Ukraine, Venezuela, Vietnam and Zimbabwe. Combat weight 17 kg ready to fire, 18.8 jg in travelling Target engagement 100 to 3,500 m (Altitude) 500 - 5,200 m (Engagement range) Crew 1 soldier Type of engaged targets tactical aircraft, helicopter, UAV and cruise missile Missile Weight: 10.6 kg Weight Warhead: 1,17 kg Warhead type : HE Fragmentation Flight speed: 570 m/s Altitude: 10 - 3,500 m a a Reaction time 5 to 10 sec. Guidance sysem Passive IR homing device and night vision (operating in the medium IR range) Dimension missile Length, 1,574 m

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