Air defense unit of the Russian Black Sea Fleet conducts drills in Crimea, according to Russian Ministry of Defence. The military used Osa and Strela-10 anti-aircraft missile systems, as well as Igla portable air defense systems. Shooting was carried out on targets that mimic the means of air attack of a conditional enemy. Russian drills have continued in recent weeks despite the global COVID-19 pandemic, which has had a significant impact on planned military exercises that were due to be held by Western armed forces.
The 9K33 Osa (NATO reporting name SA-8 Gecko) is a highly mobile, low-altitude, short-range tactical surface-to-air missile system designed in the Soviet Union. Osa was the first mobile air defense missile system incorporating its own engagement radars on a single vehicle. The six-wheeled transport vehicles BAZ-5937 are fully amphibious and air transportable. The road range is about 500 km. The 9M33M3 missile greatly enhances the altitude engagement envelope to 10–12 km , and as such are also able to fly further about 15 km.
The 9K35 Strela-10 (NATO reporting name is SA-13 Gopher) is a highly mobile, visually aimed, optical/infrared-guided, low-altitude, short-range surface-to-air missile system. Rather than being mounted on an amphibious but lightly armoured BRDM chassis like the 9K31, the 9K35 is mounted on a more mobile tracked, modified MT-LB, with more room for equipment and missile reloads. Provision for amphibious capability is provided in some variants in the form of polyurethane-filled floats.
The 9K38 Igla (NATO reporting name SA-18 Grouse) is a Russian/Soviet man-portable infrared homing surface-to-air missile (SAM). A simplified, earlier version is known as the 9K310 Igla-1, or SA-16 Gimlet, and the latest variant is the 9K338 Igla-S (SA-24 Grinch). The main improvements over the Igla-1 included much improved resistance against flares and jamming, a more sensitive seeker, a slightly longer range, a higher-impulse, shorter-burning rocket with higher peak velocity.
