The Krasnaya Zvezda newspaper reported that Russian troops will get first Very Short-Range Air Defense (VSHORAD) Gibka-S systems next year. During trials at the Kapustin Yar testing range in southern Russia in late 2019, Gibka-S proved its effectiveness against aerial targets while moving at the speed of up to 30 km/h. The trials validated the stated specifications of the system components. The light air defence system underwent preliminary trials before the state trials. Completion of the state trials represents a significant milestone in the commissioning of the system with the Russian armed forces. The VSHORAD system can engage aircraft, helicopters, cruise missiles, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and precision weapons.
Gibka-S is a new self-propelled very short-range air defence (VSHORAD) system developed by Russian state-owned defence enterprise Machine-Building Design Bureau (KBM). The Gibka-S light anti-aircraft system is based on the 9?332 combat vehicle, which is a derivative of the Tigr tactical vehicle. The vehicle is designed to carry man-portable air-defence system (MANPADS) operators along with missile load and associated equipment. The armoured vehicle is capable of launching Russian-made Igla-S and Verba MANPADS missiles. It can carry four ready-to-launch missiles loaded on the missile launcher and four ready-to-load missiles. The 9?332 combat can accommodate a crew of four, including two MANPADS anti-aircraft gunners, a commander, and a driver. The combat vehicle also features a missile remote control unit and an electro-optical tracking and targeting system.
The VSHORAD system can fire Verba or Igla-S (9?336, 9?342, 9?39) portable surface-to-air missiles to defeat incoming and receding aerial targets. The infrared-guided missiles are installed on a turret mounted on the combat vehicle. The Verba 9?336 is a 72mm missile with target range and altitude similar to that of the Igla-S missile. Guided by a tri-mode passive homing seeker, the Verba missile carries a HE warhead weighing 2.5kg. The 72.2mm Igla-S 9M342 missile has a length of 1,690mm and a weight of 11.3kg. Powered by a solid propellant booster, the missile can strike targets flying at an altitude of up to 3,500m at a speed of 400m/s. It has a maximum target engagement range of up to 6,000m. An optical homing passive seeker directs the missile towards the target. The Igla-S missile is fitted with a high-explosive (HE) blast fragmentation warhead with a proximity and impact fuse.
The Gibka-S VSHORAD system also comprises a commander’s reconnaissance and combat control vehicle (CRCV) for battery commander. The CRCV is intended for automated control of the MANPADS sections mounted on the combat vehicle. The 9S937 CRCV can control the air defence system on the armoured vehicles from a distance of 17km when the platforms are stationary. The effective communication range between the platforms is 8km when they are mobile. Equipped with Garmon 1L122-2E small-size radar, the vehicle enables communication with the higher command posts. Once a target is detected, the combat control vehicle alerts one of the combat vehicles to engage it. The radar has a target coverage range of up to 40km and can detect targets flying at an altitude of 10km.
