Upgraded “Strela-10M” ADMS: Destroying Targets Accuratelly

The majority of local wars and armed conflicts in the past decadeswere characterized by the extensive use of air Defence assets. The contribution of the air Defence forces to the victory of any of the sides was, as a rule, not only of tactical but also of strategic importance. A special role was played by the short-rangeair Defence missile systems. In particular,by the famous 

“Strela - 10”ADMS (SA-13 “Gopher” – according to NATO classification), created in the erstwhile Soviet Union and designed to fight against low - flying targets: helicopters, attack aircraft and cruise missiles. 

At presentthe “Strela-10”ADMS is employed for coverage of motorized infantry or tank units and formations both in the battlefield and on the march against enemy’s low-flying air targets. The system is in service with nearly two dozen countries around the world; it has repeatedly taken part in action and repeatedly demonstrated its high combat effectiveness. 

More than twenty five years of operating experience in the armed forces have emphasized a number of distinctive features of the “Strela-10” ADMS, which can be for sure considered asits advantages. First of all, it is high reliability, high combat effectiveness, and ease of operation. 

Within the period from 1977 to 1989, the “Strela-10SV” ADMS has been repeatedly upgraded. Today, the State Foreign Trade Unitary Enterprise “Belspetsvneshtechnika”performs overhaulingcumupgrading of the combat vehicle of the “Strela-10M” ADMS to the level of the “Strela-10BM2” ADMS.

The main purpose of the upgrading is to enable round the clock operation of the ADMSand increase its combat capabilities. 

Upgrading of the “Strela-10M”ADMS to the level of the 

“Strela - 10BM2” ADMS provides for enhancement of its combat employment and improvement of its survivability.The “Strela-10BM2”ADMS enables operationunder conditions of low visibility and at night, ensuring air target detection at a distance of not less than 15,000 m. Detection range in the daytimehas been increased up to20,000 m (more than threefold). 

The “Strela-10BM2” ADMS is equipped with a four-channel thermal imaging-TV electro-opticalstation ”Strizh-M” (EOS “Strizh-M”). In passive mode, the “Strizh-M” EOS provides searching and detection of air targets such as “tactical fighter”, flying at an altitude of 1,000 m at a distance of up to 20,000 m, and its subsequent automatic tracking. In addition, the 

“Strizh-M”EOS enables determination of boundaries of the SAM launch zoneandensures forced turning of the launcher to the likely point of target materialization to conduct tail-on firing. The “Strizh-M EOSmonitor displays air situation and service information. 

Modern navigation and orientation equipment, incorporated intothe combat vehicle (CV)reducesCV readiness time by more than sevenfold. The equipment determines location and course of the combat vehicle by the signals from satellite navigation systems GLONASS, GPS, geomagnetic sensor and digital distance sensor, and thenthe information is displayed on the monitor of the CV commander‘s automated workstation (AWS-C), which is installed in this combat vehicle for first time. 

The AWS-C enables receipt of external target designation data, display of air situation on the electronic map, receipt of information from the CV’s systems to evaluate its serviceability, availability of missile basic load and fuel,transmit ofinformation about the CV position, CV technical condition and various reports to the higher command post. 

To ensure communication, the combat vehicle is equipped with modern digital radio station R-181-50TU. 

The ADMS power supply system and crew life support system have been significantly improved. The modified power supply system includes a remote diesel generator and a rectifying starter charger. The new power supply system enables continuous combat operation during 24 hours. The diesel generator is installed 30m from the combat vehicle, thus reducing thermal visibility of the ADMS by half. The rectifying starter charger is used to start the combat vehicle and recharge the batteries. 

Furthermore, the combat vehicle is equipped with an air conditioner, which can operatebothon the move from the CV engine, and at halt – from the remote power plant, thus creating favorable conditions for combat crew on duty. There is also an energy-intensive modern air heater installed in the combat vehicle which consumes ten times less power than its predecessor and has a higher reliability. 

Old night vision devises, which were used for terrain illumination, have been replaced by modern night vision goggles that allow the operator to observe terrain at night under natural light;day/night sight DDN-120-6X-D/N is mounted on the 7.62 mm PKMB machine gun.

The “Strela-10BM2” combat vehicle isalso fitted out with the equipment formoving across water obstacles. 

The “Strela-10BM2” ADMS crews have conducted more than twenty live firing at targets, simulatingmodern  and future air attack weaponsand all the launches have been graded  as “excellent”.

However, all the above is only a small fraction of what one can tell about the new modern “Strela-10BM2” ADMS, developed by Belarusian specialists. 

It may be no coincidence that during the “MILEX-2014” Exhibition of Weapons and Military Equipment held in Minsk, the “Strela-10BM2” ADMS attracted a lot of interest from potential customers.