The “Sosna” air defense missile system works on a passive way, which means it doesn’t have any radio frequency emission means, a key asset for concealed operation. The system is intended to protect military units against air attacks and reconnaissance means, and to engage soft-skin ground targets, by day and night, whatever the weather conditions are. The novelty at Army 2019 is that the system is based on a BMP-3 chassis.

Sosna air defense system on BMP-3 chassis (left) displayed beside a BMP-3 with add-on armor and antitank missile protection system (right) (Picture source: Army Recognition)

The Sosna system has a block-and-module structure that enables to mount the combat module on different carriers with at least a 3.5-ton payload capacity, either on wheels or tracks. The module is unmanned. It is armed with 12 ready-to-fire ground-to-air missiles. The system works fully automatically. The missile's guidance is carried out in automatic or semi-automatic mode: in automatic mode, the target acquisition, the tracking with firing zones assessment and the firing sequence work without human participation; in semi-automatic mode mainly used under dense-threat environment, the operator can force the foregoing operations, even when the vehicle is moving up to 30 km/h. The manufacturer certifies that its Sosna benefits from a high jamming immunity.

The BMP-3 is an amphibious infantry fighting vehicle, the successor to the BMP-1 and BMP-2, which entered service with the Soviet army in 1990 and made its first public appearance the same year. At Army-2019, the BMP-3 is fitted with additional armor all-around the hull and the turret. Each side of the hull is also equipped with a cage armor to increase protection against RPG (rocket-propelled grenade) and ATGM (Anti-tank guided missile). The main armament of the BMP-3 consists of a 100mm 2A70 semi-automatic rifled gun/missile launcher, which is stabilized in two axes. The secondary armament includes a 30 mm 2A72 coaxial cannon and a 7.62 mm PKT coaxial machine gun.