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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

Origin
United States
Type
Man portable anti-tank missile
Entered service
1973
Status
In service
Development
Late 1960's
Developer
Soviet Union - KBP Instrument Design Bureau
Production
1972 - present
Producer
Soviet Union
Russia
Bulgaria - Vazov
Unit cost
$ 115.000 for 9P135 launcher in 1992
About $ 10.000 per missile
Number produced
Produced in large numbers
Designations
AT-4 Spigot (NATO reporting name)
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

9M111 Fagot
First production version of the 9M111 missile. It has a single HEAT warhead and 2.0 km range. NATO designation AT-4A Spigot-A.
9M111-2 Fagot
Improved variant of the 9M111. The improvements include an improved sustainer motor that results in a longer range of 2.5 km. An improved single HEAT warhead provides increased armor penetration. NATO reporting name is AT-4B Spigot-B.
9M111M Faktoriya
The latest missile which has a tandem HEAT warhead with a further improved penetration and ability to defeat ERA. This version has the NATO designation AT-4C Spigot-C.

Factsheets


Facts 9M111 9M111-2 9M111M
General
Origin
Soviet Union
Type
Anti-tank missile
Guidance
Wire guided, SACLOS
Dimensions
Weight
13.2 kg with launch container and gas booster
Diameter
120 mm
Wingspan
369 mm
Length
863 mm
1.10 m launch container
Warhead
Type
Single HEAT warhead
Weight
2.5 kg
Penetration
400 mm RHA
Propulsion
Engine
Single-stage solid propellant rocket motor plus booster
Range
75 m to 2.0 km
Max speed
240 m/s
Average speed
186 m/s

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


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.