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SA-6 (Gainful) / 2K12 Kub

1970 COLD WAR GULF WAR MODERN

History

Design work on the 2K12 "Kub" system began in 1959 at the request of the Soviet government under the leadership of NIIP/Vympel (for missiles) and MMZ (for tracked chassis). After the successful completion of the required trials (delayed by various technical challenges), the design entered series production in 1968 and continued until 1985.

Officially introduced into limited service with the Soviet Army in 1967, the system was then widely deployed in 1970, and continues to operate in many countries even todaythough it's a carryover from the 1970s. He has since witnessed successful combat operations in the Yom Kippur War, the Chad Civil War, the Iran-Iraq War, the First Lebanon War, the 1991 Gulf War and the Yugoslav War of the 1990s.

To date, at least 500 launchers have been processed and about 10,000 missiles have been delivered. NATO recognizes 2K12 as an SA-6 "enhancement".

The design of the 2K12 focuses on the use of three orbitally launched missiles, using optical sights and continuous wave target illumination. The missile can be detonated on impact or fitted with a proximity fuze, and maintain an effective range of 15 miles, hitting targets at altitudes up to 45,930 feet. Each is powered by a solid rocket motor and can reach speeds of up to Mach 2.8, putting any modern aircraft at risk. The system is classified as a low-to-mid-altitude interceptor, and its tracking properties ensure it can be deployed anywhere to defend against critical installations.

In its tracked form, the chassis uses six twin-tire wheels, with a drive sprocket located aft of the hull. The crew was completely sealed inside their armored vehicle, while the transverse launcher containing the three missiles was located on top of the hull.

2K12 was upgraded to 2K12 Kub-M1 in 1973. Further development of this system resulted in the improved 2K12 Kub-M3 in 1976. This was followed by the 2K12 Kub-M4 in 1978, which was based on the 2K1 Kub-M3 and was designed to work with the newer 9K37 "Buk". Air Defense Missile System - Inspired by the 2K12 series. The export version of 2K12 became 2K12E "Kvadrat", and since then these have been widely used in Soviet/Russian allies and countries.

The 3M9M1 became a variant in 1977 with an all-new tracked undercarriage, which NATO referred to as "SA-6B".

2K12 operators include Algeria, Armenia, Bulgaria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cameroon, Chad, Cuba, Czech Republic (formerly Czechoslovakia), Egypt, Hungary, India, Iran, Libya, Myanmar, Mozambique, North Korea, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Serbia, Syria and Vietnam. With the exception of some missile target simulation systems in circulation, it is no longer possible for the Soviet Army to use the series extensively. Iraq and the former Yugoslavia are some of the other former operators of the 2K12 series.

Several localized and modified versions of 2K12 have surfaced in places like Poland and the Czech Republic.

In the Soviet inventory, the 2K12 Kub was replaced by the modern 9K37 "Buk" quad missile tracking system, although both were eventually used as a complement to a fully integrated air defense network.