9K38 Igla Totally Explained

Everything about Igla totally explained

The 9K38 Igla (; ) is a Russian/Soviet man-portable infrared homing surface-to-air missile (SAM). "9K38" is the Russian GRAU designation of the system. Its US DoD designation is SA-18 and NATO reporting name is Grouse.

History

Development of the Igla short-range man-portable air defence missile (MANPADS) began in the Kolomna OKB in 1971. Contrary to what is commonly reported, the Igla isn't an improved version of the earlier Strela family (Strela-2/SA-7 and Strela-3/SA-14), but an all new project. The main goals were to create a missile with better resistance to countermeasures and wider engagement envelope than the earlier Strela series MANPADS systems.
Technical difficulties in the development quickly made it obvious that the development would take far longer than anticipated however, and in 1978 the program split in two: while the development of the full-capability Igla would continue, a simplified version (Igla-1) with a simpler IR seeker based on that of the earlier Strela-3/SA-14 would be developed to enter service earlier than the full-capability version could be finished.

Igla-1

The 9K310 Igla-1 system (NATO reporting name SA-16 Gimlet) and its 9M313 missile were accepted into service in the Soviet army on 11 March, 1981. Main differences from the Strela-3 included an optional IFF (Identification-Friend-or-Foe) system to prevent firing on friendly aircraft, an automatic lead and super elevation to simplify shooting and reduce minimum firing range, a slightly larger rocket, reduced drag and better guidance system extend maximum range and improve performance against fast and maneuverable targets, an improved lethality on target achieved by a combination of delayed impact fusing, terminal maneuver to hit the fuselage rather than jet nozzle, and an additional charge to set off the remaining rocket fuel (if any) on impact, an improved resistance to infrared countermeasures (both decoy flares and ALQ-144 series jamming emitters), a slightly improved seeker sensitivity.
According to the manufacturer, South African tests have shown the Igla's superiority over the contemporary (1982 service entry) but smaller and lighter American FIM-92A Stinger missile. However, other tests in Croatia didn't support any clear superiority, but effectively equal seeker performance and only marginally shorter time of flight and longer range for the Igla.
According to Kolomna OKB, the Igla-1 has a P_k (probability of kill) of 0.30 to 0.48 against unprotected targets which is reduced to 0.24 in the presence of decoy flares and jamming. In another report the manufacturer claimed a P_k of 0.59 against an approaching and 0.44 against receding F-4 Phantom II fighter not employing infrared countermeasures or evasive manoeuvers.

Igla

The full-capability 9K38 Igla (NATO reporting name SA-18 Grouse) with 9M39 missile was finally accepted to service in the Soviet Army in 1983. The main improvements over the Igla-1 includes a much improved resistance against flares and jamming, a more sensitive seeker, expanding forward-hemisphere engagement capability to include straight-approaching fighters (all-aspect capability) under favourable circumstances, a slightly longer range, and a higher-impulse, shorter-burning rocket with higher peak velocity (but approximately same time of flight to maximum range), and a propellant that performs as high explosive when detonated by the warhead's secondary charge on impact.
Tests in Finland have shown that compared to the French Mistral, the 9K38 Igla has inferior range and seeker sensitivity and smaller warhead, but superior resistance to countermeasures.
The naval variant of 9K38 Igla has the NATO reporting name (NATO SA-N-10 Grouse).

Other variants

Several variants of the Igla were developed for specific applications:

Igla-1E: Export version. ;Igla-1M: Improved version of 9K38 Igla. Entered service in Soviet Military during late 1980s.

Igla-1D: A version for paratroopers and special forces with separate launch tube and missile. ;Igla-1V: Air-launched version, mainly for combat helicopters.

Igla-1N: A version with heavier warhead at the cost of a slight reduction in range and speed. ;Igla-1A: Export version?

Igla-1S: The newest variant, which is a substantially improved variant with longer range, more sensitive seeker, improved resistance to latest countermeasures, and a heavier warhead.

Comparison chart to other MANPADS

	9K34 Strela-3	9K38 Igla	9K310 Igla-1	FIM-92A Stinger
Service entry	1974	1983	1981	1982
Weight, full system, ready to shoot	16.0 kg (35.2 lb)	17.9 kg (39.5 lb)	17.9 kg (39.5 lb)	14.3 kg (31.5 lb)
Weight, missile	10.3 kg (22.7 lb)	10.8 kg (23.8 lb)	10.8 kg (23.8 lb)	10.1 kg (22.3 lb)
Weight, warhead	1.17 kg (2.6 lb), 390 g (13.75 oz) HMX	1.17 kg (2.6 lb), 390 g (13.75 oz) HMX	1.17 kg (2.6 lb), 390 g (13.75 oz) HMX	2–3 kg (4–6 lb), 450 g (15.9 oz) HE
Warhead type	Directed-energy blast fragmentation	Directed-energy blast fragmentation	Directed-energy blast fragmentation	Annular blast fragmentation
Fuze type	Impact and grazing fuze.	Delayed impact, magnetic and grazing.	Delayed impact, magnetic and grazing.	Delayed impact.
Flight speed, average / peak	470 m/s (1050 mph) sustained	600 m/s (1350 mph) / 800 m/s (1800 mph)	570 m/s (1280 mph) sustained (in +15 C temperature)	700 m/s (1500 mph) / 750 m/s (1700 mph)
Maximum range	4100 m (13,500 ft)	5200 m (17,000 ft)	5000 m (16,400 ft)	4500–4800 m (14,800–15,700 ft)
Maximum target speed, receding	260 m/s (580 mph)	360 m/s (805 mph)	360 m/s (805 mph)	?
Maximum target speed, approaching	310 m/s (690 mph)	320 m/s (715 mph)	320 m/s (715 mph)	?
Seeker head type	Nitrogen-cooled, lead sulfide (PbS)	Nitrogen-cooled, Indium antimonide (InSb) and uncooled lead sulfide (PbS)	Nitrogen-cooled, Indium antimonide (InSb)	Argon-cooled, Indium antimonide (InSb)
Seeker scanning	FM-modulated	FM-modulated	FM-modulated	FM-modulated
Seeker notes		Aerospike to reduce supersonic wave drag	Tripod-mounted nosecone to reduce supersonic wave drag

Use in alleged plot against Air Force One

On August 12, 2003, as a result of a sting operation arranged as a result of cooperation between the American, British and Russian intelligence agencies, Hemant Lakhani, a British national, was intercepted attempting to bring what he'd thought was an older-generation Igla into the USA. He is said to have intended the missile to be used in an attack on Air Force One, the American presidential plane, or on a commercial US airliner, and is understood to have planned to buy 50 more of these weapons.
Allegedly, after the Federalnaya Sluzhba Bezopasnosti (FSB) detected the dealer in Russia, he was approached by US undercover agents posing as terrorists wanting to shoot down a commercial plane. He was then provided with a non-working Igla by undercover Russian agents, and arrested in Newark, New Jersey, when making the delivery to the undercover US agent. An Indian citizen residing in Malaysia, Moinuddeen Ahmed Hameed and an American Yehuda Abraham who allegedly provided money to buy the missile were also arrested.

Operators

Igla and Igla-1 SAMs have been exported from the former Soviet Union to over 30 countries, including Angola, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cuba, Czech Republic, East Germany, Egypt, Eritrea, Finland, Hungary, India, Iran, Iraq, Macedonia, Malaysia, Mexico, Montenegro, Morocco, North Korea, Peru, Poland, Serbia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Korea, Syria, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, and Zimbabwe. Several guerrilla and terrorist organizations are also known to have Iglas. Alleged Operatives of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam a rebel organization fighting for a homeland for Tamils in the island of Sri Lanka were arrested in August 2006 by undercover agents of the FBI posing as arms dealers, while trying to purchase the Igla. In 2003 the unit cost was approximately USD 60,000 - 80,000.

Igla-1E (SA-16)

- known as ItO 86

Igla (SA-18)

- known as ItO-86M

- Mexican Navy

Other uses

The GLL Igla is a recent Russian scramjet project conducted by TsIAM.

Further Information

Get more info on 'Igla'.

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