About 9K33 Osa-AK Missile System:
- It is a Russian-built highly mobile, low-altitude, short-range tactical surface-to-air defence missile system.
- Originally developed in the 1960s and fielded by the Soviet Union in 1972, the Osa-AK has remained a crucial asset for many armies around the world, including the Indian Army.
- In the West, the Osa is known by the NATO reporting name "SA-8 Gecko".
- Features:
- It has a length of about 9.1 m, a width of 2.78 m, and a weight of up to 18 tonnes.
- The Osa-AK’s all-in-one vehicle setup, combining the transporter-erector-launcher and radar (TELAR), enables it to detect, track, and engage aerial threats independently.
- The vehicle can carry up to five crew members and is fitted with a nuclear, biological, and chemical (NBC) protection system.
- It is armed with 6 missiles ready to fire, mounted on the roof of the vehicle.
- It can engage targets up to a maximum range of 12km.
- It is highly mobile and can quickly respond to threats in a rapidly changing combat environment.
- It is fully amphibious, air transportable, and able to operate in a range of terrain conditions.
- With a range of around 500 km on the road, it can swiftly relocate to different regions for strategic deployment.
