9K111 Fagot
NATO: AT-4 Spiral
Overview
9K111 Fagot
Manpack launcher with 9M111 Fagot (NATO: AT-4 Spigot) series anti-tank guided missile.
Source: www.arms-expo.ru -
© Copyright lies with original owner
Russia
Bulgaria - Vazov
About $ 10.000 per missile
PstOhj 82 (Finnish service)
Description
Introduction
The 9K111 Fagot is a late Cold War era anti-tank missile of Soviet origin. The 9K111 is better known in the West by its NATO designation "AT-4 Spigot". It was developed in the late 1960's as a more compact and more effective system than the 9K11 Malyutka system. The 9K111 is a medium range system and is in the same league as the French Milan system.
Design
The 9K111 Fagot system is a man portable system that uses a reusable manpack launcher. The 9M111 missile is transported in and launched from a container. The missile has a booster charge and sustainer rocket motor. Four small vanes at the front and four large wings in the middle provide stability during launch. The 9M111 is wire guided and features SACLOS guidance. The 9P135 lightweight tripod launcher includes an optical sight system and computing mechanism. The same launcher can be used with the larger and longer range 9M113 Konkurs missile.
Firepower
The 9K111 can be used to take out any armored vehicle except modern tanks over the frontal arc. The original missile has a penetration of 400mm RHA, with the latest missile capable of penetrating up to 600mm RHA. The maximum range is 2 km for the original missile and 2.5 km for the improved missiles. If not obscured by smoke the SACLOS guidance system ensures a good chance to hit the target, even when the target is moving.
Mobility
The 9K111 is a very mobile system. The tripod launcher with a missile ready to fire weighs less than 40 kg. When the load is divided over multiple persons the 9K111 may even be transported over long distances by infantry. Normally the 9K111 is transported by vehicle and employed away from the vehicle.
Platforms
The 9K111 launcher has also been pintle mounted on various armored vehicles. The 9P148 tank destroyer based on the BRDM-2 chassis can launch the 9M111 missile. On the BMP-1P and BMD-1P mechanized infantry fighting vehicles the pintle mounted launcher replaced the 9M14 Malyutka launcher that was mounted on top of the 73mm low pressure gun. The 9K111 is not used on aircraft or in a naval role.
Users
The 9K111 was widely used by the USSR and most Eastern European nations during the Cold War. The 9K111 was also widely exported, but not the extent of the earlier 9K11 Malyutka system. The 9K111 remains in use and production and is expected to remain in use even though more modern systems are available.
Variants
9M111 missile
9M111M Factorlya missile on a pedestal mounted 9P135M launcher.
Source: jmkim0912 @ www.kr.blog.yahoo.com -
© copyright lies with original owner
Variants of the 9M111 missile
Factsheets
Platforms
9P135 manpack launcher
The 9P135 is the tripod launcher associated with the 9K111 system. The original 9P135 can only fire the 9M111 missile. The later 9P135M, M1, M2 and M3 can also launch the larger and longer range 9M113 missile alongside the 9M111 missile. The launcher can also be pintle mounted on armored vehicles.
9P148
The 9P148 is a tank destroyer designed around the new 9K113 Konkurs missile. It can also launch the 9M111 series of anti-tank missiles. Often a mixed load of missiles is carried. Unlike many other vehicles, the 9P148 does not use a pintle mounted 9P135 launcher. The missiles are controlled under armor protection from within the vehicle.
BTR-RD "Robot"
The BTR-RD is a tank destroyer based on the BTR-D armored personnel carrier for airborne forces. It features a pedestal mounted launcher for 9M113 Konkurs and 9M111 Fagot anti-tank missiles.
BMD-2
The BMD-2 is fitted with a pedestal mounted missile launcher for 9M113 Konkurs and 9M111 Fagot anti-tank missiles.
BMD-1P
The BMD-1P variant of the BMD-1 is an updated variant that includes a pedestal mounted missile launcher for 9M113 Konkurs and 9M111 Fagot anti-tank missiles. Both missiles are a vast improvement over the older 9K11 Malyutka (NATO: AT-3 Sagger).
Media
9K111 Fagot anti-tank guided weapon
9K111 Fagot system launching a 9M111 missile.
Source: Jazbar
Copyright: public domain
9K111 Fagot anti-tank guided weapon
Forward view of Polish army 9K111 system in the firing position.
Source: www.wp.mil.pl
Copyright: copyright lies with original owner
9K111 Fagot anti-tank guided weapon
US Army soldiers being instructed on the use of the 9K111 system.
Source: US Army (Staff Sgt. Isaac A. Graham)
Copyright: public domain
Related articles
MILAN
The French/German MILAN missile is the NATO counterpart of the 9K111 Fagot. Reportedly the Fagot was partially inspired by the MILAN.
9K113 Konkurs
The Konkurs (NATO: AT-5 Spandrel) is the bigger brother of the Fagot system. It follows a similar design pattern, but is a larger diameter missile. This results in greater penetration and longer range. All but the first model of the 9P135 launcher can also be used to launch the Konkurs missile.