9K121 Vikhr

The 9K121 Vikhr (Russian: Вихрь, English: Whirlwind; NATO reporting name: AT-16 Scallion) is a Russian laser guided anti-tank missile. "9K121" is the GRAU designation for the missile system. The missile can be launched from warships, Ka-50 and Ka-52 helicopters, and Su-25T aircraft. It was first shown publicly at the 1992 Farnborough Airshow.

This article is about the Vikhr anti-tank missile. For the Vikhr assault rifle, see SR-3 Vikhr. For the nuclear anti-submarine missile, see RPK-1 Vikhr.
9K121 Vikhr
Vikhr missiles
TypeAir-launched anti-tank missile
Place of originSoviet Union
Service history
In service1985–present[1]
Used byRussian Air Force
Egyptian Air Force[2]
Production history
ManufacturerKBP Instrument Design Bureau
Unit costUnknown
Produced1985–present
Specifications
Mass45 kg
Length2.80 m
Diameter130 mm
Warhead8–12 kg tandem HEAT charge, armor penetration behind ERA, 1,000 mm[3]
Detonation
mechanism
Proximity and Impact
Enginesolid-fuel rocket
Wingspan380 mm
Propellantsolid fuel
Operational
range
10–12 km
Maximum speed 600m/s, Mach 1.8
Guidance
system
Laser beam riding
Launch
platform
Helicopters

Aircraft

Ships

Description

The missile is designed to engage vital ground targets, including armoured targets fitted out with built-in and add-on explosive reactive armor, at a range of up to 8 km when fired from a helicopter and 10 km when fired from a fixed-wing aircraft in daytime and up to 5 km at night, as well as air targets in conditions of air defense assets activity.

The Vikhr-1 missile is part of the Vikhr-M system, which also includes an automatic sight and a depressible launcher. Adopted in 1990.[6][7]

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

The multi-purpose warhead (two-stage HEAT and an additional fragmentation sleeve) allows the missile to be used against armoured, airborne and area targets alike. This is an advantage compared to the three different missiles required in the 9M120 Ataka-V complex. The use of the proximity fuze allows a near miss of up to 5 m and makes it possible to engage an air target at speeds of 500 m/s.

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 laser guidance principle is identical to that used by 9M117 Bastion or 9M119 Svir antiarmor missiles. 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 (reported 0.95 against stationary targets) 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.

The missiles can be fired singly or in pairs (at the same target to increase lethality). The high flight speed allows it to engage targets rapidly. The system is capable of launching Vikhr missiles against two to four targets during a 30-second period and starting at a range of 10 km, which increases its lethality to three to four times that of earlier systems.

Variants
  • 9A1472 Vikhr-1 – Upgraded version.[8]

Notes
  1. Vichr, RU: Narod.
  2. Egypt first international customer for Russian 9A1472 Vikhr-1 AT-16 Scallion anti-tank guided missile
  3. Vichr, RU: Air war.
  4. "Вихрь-К", корабельный высокоточный зенитный ракетно-артиллерийский комплекс. Arms-Expo (in Russian). RU: Информационное агентство «Оружие России». Archived from the original on April 25, 2012. Retrieved 30 March 2013.
  5. Vichr K, RU: Factoria.
  6. «Ижмаш» будет участвовать в тендере на производство управляемых ракет «Вихрь-1»
  7. Минобороны заключило контракт с «Ижмашем» на поставку управляемых ракет «Вихрь-1»
  8. "Egypt first international customer for Russian 9A1472 Vikhr-1 AT-16 Scallion anti-tank guided missile TASS".

References
  • Russia's Arms Catalog 2004
  • Jane's Air Launched Weapons, Issue thirty six.
  • www.airwar.ru
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