Kalashnikov Concern announced the start of tests for its Krona air defence system mounted on existing BTR-82 8x8 armoured vehicles with two missile options.
Kalashnikov Concern’s Krona mobile short-range air defence system, combining existing systems, is entering the trial phase, as announced by the firm.
Based on the seemingly abandoned Sosna air defence system with an identical turret using BTR-82 as the platform, Krona uses two types of short-range missiles: 9M337 and 9M333. Four 9M333 missiles and six 9M337 missiles are carried per vehicle.
9M337 is a laser beam-riding two-stage missile, which offers resistance to flares and radar warning receivers. In addition to countermeasure resistance, the guidance method is also better suited against low IR signature targets. The missile has a range of 10 km and carries a seven-kilogram proximity-fused warhead.
9M333, an upgrade for the Strela-10 air defence system, is a multi-channel IR-guided missile with an identical overall size compared to Sosna-R. The missile with a range of five kilometres incorporates a seeker combining infrared and optical contrast channels.
The vehicle’s sensors include an EO/IR system that also provides guidance for Sosna-R missiles and what appears to be a small radar.
Author: Kaan Azman
Editor:Özgür Ekşi
