Military Wiki
Register
Advertisement
3M11 / 9M17
AT-2 Swatter
AT-2c Swatter
AT-2C Swatter
Type Anti-tank missile
Place of origin Flag of the Soviet Union Soviet Union
Service history
In service 1964- present
Production history
Designer Nudelman OKB-16
Specifications
Mass 27 kilograms (60 lb)
Length 116 cm (46 in)
Diameter 148 mm (5.8 in)
Warhead HEAT
Warhead weight 5.4 kg (12 lb)

Engine Solid fuel rocket
Wingspan 68 cm (27 in)
Operational
range
0.5 to 2.5 kilometres (0.31 to 1.55 mi)
Maximum speed 160 m/s (360 mph)
Guidance
system
Radio command
Steering
system
MCLOS
Launch
platform
Mi-4, Mi-8, Mi-24, Mi-25, BRDM-1, BRDM-2

The AT-2 Swatter is the NATO reporting name for the 3M11 Fleyta (flute) MCLOS radio command Anti-tank missile of the Soviet Union.

Development[]

The missile was developed by the Nudelman OKB-16 design bureau. It was developed at about the same time as the AT-1 Snapper as a heavy ATGM for use on both ground launchers and helicopters. It addressed some of the problems of the AT-1; it was much faster, and had slightly longer range. These improvements were achieved by sending commands via a radio link instead of a trailing guidance wire - which allowed the missile to travel faster. However, it did make it vulnerable to jamming. The missile system was shown to Soviet premier Nikita Khrushchev in September 1964, and accepted for service shortly afterwards.

History[]

AT-2b Swatter line drawing

AT-2B Swatter missile

The AT-2 was the first Soviet ATGM to be deployed from helicopters. Small numbers where fitted to the Mi-4AV. The missile was deployed on the Mi-8 Hip as well as the Mi-24, and Mi-25 `Hind' series of helicopters. It was also deployed on the BRDM-1 and BRDM-2 infantry fighting vehicles.

The original AT-2A (3M11 Falanga) missile was problematic - one Russian source describes the missile as "notable for its complexity and low reliability". Also, the missile's range was felt to be inadequate. An improved version of the missile was developed: the AT-2B (9M17 Skorpion). Externally, the missiles are very similar; however, the AT-2B range is increased to 3.5 km. The standard production version was the 9M17M Skorpion-M, which entered service in 1968.

The next development was to integrate SACLOS guidance - the result was the AT-2 Swatter-C or 9M17P Skorpion-P. It entered service in 1969. A product improved version the 9M17MP was developed that had an improved engine and signal lamp.

The missile has been used extensively in the following wars on the Mi-24 platform.

It has been replaced in Soviet service by the 9K114 Shturm ATGM.

General characteristics (AT-2 Swatter A)[]

AT-2a Swatter line drawing

AT-2A Swatter missile

  • Length: 1,160 mm
  • Wingspan: 680 mm
  • Diameter: 148 mm
  • Launch weight: 27.0 kg
  • Speed: 150–170 m/s
  • Range: 500 m - 2.5 km
  • Time to maximum range: 17 seconds
  • Guidance: Radio command MCLOS
  • Warhead: 5.4 kg HEAT 500 mm vs RHA

Models[]

  • AT-2A Swatter A MCLOS
    • 3M11 / 9M11
  • AT-2B Swatter B Range increased to 3.5 km.
    • 9M17
    • 9M17DB Modified system to work with the Mi-8TB (Hip-E).
    • 9M17M Skorpion-M MCLOS 9K8 (Falanga-M). Launch weight 29 kg, Maximum range 3,500 m. First seen in the 1973 Moscow Parade.
  • AT-2C Swatter C SACLOS Falanga-PV (Fleyta) 9K8. Launch weight 29 kg.
    • 9M17P First SACLOS version.
    • 9M17MP Improved engine and guidance lamp. Maximum range 4,000 m.
    • 9M17N

Operators[]

9M17 operators

Map with 9M17 operators in blue and former operators in red

Current operators[]

  • Flag of Afghanistan Afghanistan
  • Flag of Angola Angola
  • Flag of Bulgaria Bulgaria
  • Flag of Cuba Cuba
  • Flag of Cyprus Cyprus
  • Flag of Egypt Egypt
  • Flag of Hungary Hungary
  • Flag of India India
  • Flag of Libya Libya
  • Flag of Peru Peru
  • Flag of Poland Poland - only on Mi-24D.
  • Flag of Romania Romania
  • Flag of Syria Syria
  • Flag of Vietnam Vietnam
  • Flag of Yemen Yemen

Former operators[]

  • Flag of Czechoslovakia Czechoslovakia - passed on to successor states.
  • Flag of the Czech Republic Czech Republic
  • Flag of Iraq Iraq - Destroyed during the 2003 invasion of Iraq.
  • Flag of Russia Russia - Missiles using as targets for training.
  • Flag of Slovakia Slovakia
  • Flag of the Soviet Union Soviet Union - passed on to successor states.

References[]

  • Hull, A.W., Markov, D.R., Zaloga, S.J. (1999). Soviet/Russian Armor and Artillery Design Practices 1945 to Present. Darlington Productions. ISBN 1-892848-01-5.

External links[]


All or a portion of this article consists of text from Wikipedia, and is therefore Creative Commons Licensed under GFDL.
The original article can be found at 9M17 Fleyta and the edit history here.
Advertisement