Kalashnikov Group has completed delivery of the 9M333 anti-aircraft guided missiles (SAM) to the Russian Ministry of Defense.
The 9M333 SAM is used in the 9A34M3 and 9A35M3 combat vehicles of the Strela-10M3 anti-aircraft missile system. The missile is designed to destroy low-flying aircraft and helicopters in conditions of the use of dropped, parachuted and modulated organized optical interference, as well as remotely piloted aircraft and cruise missiles. The homing head of the 9M333 SAM has three operating modes: photocontrast, infrared and jamming, state-owned Rostec said in a release.
The missile is capable of hitting targets at a distance of up to 5000m, while the speed of targets can reach 679m/s, and the flight altitude is from 10-3500m.
The product is manufactured by the Kalashnikov concern. The first public demonstration of the missile took place in 2020 as part of the Army 2020 International Military-Technical Forum. In December 2020, the 9M333 SAM successfully passed qualification and flight tests and fully confirmed its compliance with the customer’s requirements. In October 2021, periodic flight tests were carried out with a positive result.
“The development of air defense systems required the creation of the latest ammunition that would meet the requirements of today. The 9M333 anti-aircraft guided missiles, the first mass deliveries of which to the RF Ministry of Defense have just been completed by the Kalashnikov concern, will increase the effectiveness of the fight against low-flying aircraft and helicopters due to the significantly increased ‘tenacity’ of the guidance system and greater combat power. Such ammunition allows you to fire on the principle of ‘fire and forget,’ that is, after launching a rocket, immediately change the location of the anti-aircraft missile system,” commented Bekkhan Ozdoev, industrial director of the weapons complex of Rostec State Corporation.
