9P148 Konkurs (BRDM-2 Spandrel)

History

9P148 "Konkurs", also incorrectly referred to by some as "BRDM-3", is a variant of the BRDM-2 amphibious reconnaissance vehicle base series that appeared in 1962 and was intended to replace the BRDM-1. The BRDM-2 series has proven to be an adaptable and capable battlefield system since its inception and has been in service with around 40 countries around the world outside the Soviet Union - many still in use today. The Konkurs variant is mechanically similar to the base vehicle BRDM-2, except that the Konkurs (NATO: "Spandrel") anti-tank missile launcher is mounted on the fuselage.

The end product, therefore, is a highly mobile, all-terrain anti-tank support vehicle capable of reconnaissance terrain, reporting enemy positions and defending against enemy armor.

Externally, the 9P148 is very similar to the original BRDM-2 scout vehicle, as it retains the original's more functional appearance, including its four-wheel 4x4 drive, lower hull, and sloping upper hull fairing. The four auxiliary wheels that can be lowered in the middle of the sides of the vehicle are also retained.

Various viewing windows allow two or three occupants to view options in terms of relative safety of the vehicle. Multiple entry hatches allow entry and exit.

The boat-like forward fuselage has been carefully designed so that the 9P148 (like the BRDM-2 base before it) is fully amphibious, powered by water from a propeller system buried in the lower rear of the fuselage.

As for Konkurs missile support, the 9P148 has a five-port rail for the Konkurs 9M113 (NATO: AT-5 "Spandrel") series of wire-guided anti-tank missile systems. Introduced in 1974, the 135mm missile was designed to provide Soviet anti-tank forces against NATO armored forces on the battlefield.

The missile is equipped with a tandem HEAT (High Explosive Anti-Tank) warhead and a solid-fuel rocket booster, while detonation is by direct force contact. With an effective range of 2.5 miles, the Spandrel can engage enemy tanks from a distance and has a good penetration effect. However, as a wire-guided weapon, the operator can only control the missile in flight (via thrust vectoring) until the data cable connecting the missile and launch vehicle is severed.

Sightings were carried out by means of equipment mounted on the upper right front of the fuselage. The launch system is specially designed to be retractable during transport and placed on top of the turret while reducing the vehicle's side profile. The crew can launch all five missiles from the pod or remotely via a relay cable, with the crew positioned up to 80 meters from the vehicle. However, reloading is managed externally by the onboard missile supply, which can carry up to 14.

The crew reloaded the launcher rails through a hatch located behind the launcher itself.

It is worth noting that the early production form of the 9P148 was limited to firing 9M113 Konkurs series missiles, but the system was later developed to also fire 9M111 "Fagot" (NATO: AT-4 "spigot") support. Modernization of the 9P148 series required the installation of a "whip" aerial communications antenna, as well as updated sights based on the latest available technology to significantly improve day and night support.

Specification

Basic

Roles

Dimensions

Performance

Performance

for everyone else in our database)

Armor

14 x 9M113 Konkurs (AT-5 Spandrel) missiles or 10 x 9M111 Fagot (AT-4 Spigot) missiles and 10 x 9M113 Konkurs (AT-5 Spandrel.

Changes