SA-14 Gremlin

Overview

The 9K34 Strela-3, NATO reporting name SA-14 Gremlin, was developed to replace the poorly performing 9K32 Strela-2 (SA-7SA-7 Grail Threat systemA shoulder-fired, rear-aspect infrared missile: nothing on the RWR, and flares proved highly effective against it.). It borrows heavily from the Strela-2SA-7 Grail Threat systemA shoulder-fired, rear-aspect infrared missile: nothing on the RWR, and flares proved highly effective against it. and was accepted into Soviet Army service in January 1974. It has been exported to more than 30 countries and was followed by the Igla (SA-16SA-16 Gimlet Threat systemThe simplified first Igla: a shoulder-fired infrared missile with optional IFF, credited with Gulf War and Kosovo hits. and SA-18SA-18 Grouse Threat systemThe full Igla: a shoulder-fired missile whose infrared and ultraviolet seeker resists flares, with head-on capability.). [1]

How it engages

The big change from the SA-7 is the seeker. It uses FM (con-scan) modulation, which is harder to jamElectromagnetic jamming GlossaryJoint terms: The deliberate radiation, reradiation, or reflection of electromagnetic energy for the purpose of preventing or reducing an enemy's effective use of the electromagnetic spectrum, and with the intent of degrading or… or decoyDecoy GlossaryWeapons: An imitation in any sense of a person, object, or phenomenon which is intended to deceive enemy surveillance devices or mislead enemy evaluation. with flaresDecoy flare GlossaryWeapons: A flare dispensed from a launcher on the aircraft and fired during evasion tactics when the aircraft is threatened by enemy heat-seeking missiles. than the SA-7’s AM spin-scan seeker. A pressurised nitrogen bottle on the launcher cools its lead sulphide detector, which then senses longer wavelengths (up to about 4.3 µm instead of 2.8 µm), so it tracks cooler targets at longer range. That gives it a limited forward-hemisphere capability against jets in favourable conditions. [1] The 1998 Army handout lists passive, cooled infrared guidance and all-aspect capability. [2]

The missile weighs 10.3 kg, flies at 470 m/s and carries a 1.17 kg blast-fragmentation warhead. [1]

Envelope

The article gives a 4.5 km (2.4 NM) maximum range and a 30–3,000 m (100–9,800 ft) engagement altitude; its summary lists a ceiling of 1,800 m against jets and 3,000 m against slow targets. [1] The 1998 Army handout gives a 6 km range and a 0 m minimum engagement altitude. [2] Neither source gives a minimum range, so Figure 1 draws 4.5 km and 30–3,000 m with the inner edge dashed.

On the radar warning receiver

The SA-14 has no radar, so a radar warning receiver gives no warning of it.

History

In the War in Abkhazia, a Georgian SA-14 shot down a Russian Mi-8Mi-8MTV-2 Hip AircraftThe armed transport version of the Mi-8, the most-produced helicopter in the world. carrying refugees on 14 December 1992, and an SA-14 shot down a Georgian Air Force Su-25Su-25 Frogfoot AircraftAn armoured Soviet close air support jet; the Su-25T adds Vikhr anti-tank missiles. on 4 July 1993. [1] Northern Alliance SA-14s are credited with eight Taliban MiG-21MiG-21 AircraftThe small delta-wing Mach 2 fighter: the most-produced supersonic jet in history. and Su-22 fighters in 2000. In Iraq, a Strela-3 hit an Airbus A300 cargo aircraft after take-off from Baghdad in November 2003, which landed despite losing hydraulic power, and one shot down a Royal Navy Lynx over Basra in May 2006. [1] The Strela-3 article attributes the loss of a British Sea Harrier over Bosnia on 16 April 1994 to an SA-14 [1]; the Igla article credits the same loss to an Igla (see SA-18SA-18 Grouse Threat systemThe full Igla: a shoulder-fired missile whose infrared and ultraviolet seeker resists flares, with head-on capability.).