The JSC Nudelman Precision Engineering Design Bureau (KB Tochmash) demonstrated its Sosna surface-to-air missile (SAM) system on a BTR-82A 8×8 armoured personnel carrier at the Army-2021 exhibition outside Moscow. Previously, Sosna had only been seen mounted on BMP-3 and MT-LB tracked chassis. “Sosna” is a short-range actions to protect the military units from air attacks in all types of combat is result of deep modernization of ZRK “Strela-10M3”. Able to effectively work as part of the battery under the control of different types of old, modern and promising battery command posts, the most preferred of which is PRO “Sborka-M1-2”.
The weapon system of the Sosna consists of 2×6 Sosna-R missile launchers mounted on a turret which can turn on 360°. The turret also includes air search and target tracking equipments, missile flight control units that are combined by integrated high-precision ECM-protected electro-optical control system (EOCS). The SOSNA-R 9M337 (SA-24) hyper-velocity beam rider missile is a two-stage missile designed for interception of fired wing aircraft and helicopters, as well as guided weapons and cruise missiles. It has a combined impact/proximity laser fuse. Its payload is made up of two warheads weighing a total of 7 kg.
The fragmented-rod warhead is designed for proximity detonation when flying close to the target, while the armor-piercing/fragmentation warhead goes off on impact. The Sosna can be reloaded in les than 12 minutes. The optical fire control system affords the Sosna AD system high survivability and enhanced jamming immunity. The Sosna’s self-contained optical sensor allows tracking 50 targets and engaging one on the move. The EOCS is developed as self-sufficient, with the necessary list of information channels, with own stabilization system, automatic guidance system and digital computer system.
The new Sosna is based to the hull of the multi-purpose tracked armored vehicle BTR-82A. BTR-82A is a latest production version BTR-80 with improved armour, spall liners, more modern night vision device TKN-4GA-02, 2A72 30 mm gun (a lighter, less complex cousin of the 2A42), GLONASS navigation system and a more powerful engine of 300 hp. The BTR-80 (Bronyetransportyor, Armoured Transporter) is an 8×8 wheeled amphibious armoured personnel carrier (APC) designed in the USSR. The Ministry of Defense of Russia has formally adopted the armored personnel carrier BTR-82A. The corresponding order was signed by Defense Minister Sergey Shoygu in early 2013.
