Several units of the Russian Armed Forces have received new VERBA 9K333 MANPADS in 2015 TASS 11103163.

11 Mar, 2016 17:54 | 2016

Defence & Security News - Russia

Several units of the Russian Armed Forces have received new VERBA 9K333 MANPADS in 2015.

In 2015, motorised rifle, tank and airborne brigades of Russian Armed Forces began to receive the newest 9K333 Verba man-portable air-defense systems (MANPADS), according to a source in Kolomna-based KBM company (a subsidiary of the High-Precision Weapon holding).

New Verba 9K333 MANPADS (Man Portable Air Defense System) missile.

He pointed out that the Verba MANPAD systems are supplied in sets which include launching units, surface-to-air missiles (SAM), maintenance tools, trainers and pieces of detecting equipment integrated with Barnaul-T automated control system.

Verba is the latest modification of 9K338 Igla-S (NATO reporting name: SA-24 Grinch) MANPADS. It outperforms all MANPAD systems operationally available for foreign armed forces.

Verba can eliminate large aerial targets (fixed-wing/rotor-wing aircraft), as well as small targets like cruise missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV).

The Verba`s 9M336 surface-to-air missile incorporates fundamentally new three-channel optical seeker. It operates in the near-infrared, medium-infrared and ultraviolet wavelengths. Hence, Verba is an accurate and selective weapon.

Three sensors are counterchecking each other, neutralizing aerial decoy systems. The seeker is picking out the decoys, selecting real target, which has the smallest thermal signature. The seeker`s sensitivity has been increased by eight times. As a result, the range of acquisition and elimination of aerial targets has been expanded by two-and-a-half times (compared to Igla-S MANPADS). The missile`s jamming resistance has been increased by 10 times. Verba is equipped with Maugli-2 night vision system.

The Verba`s command & control (C2) system allows to detect aerial targets (including the target sets), to determine the flight variables and even to distribute the acquired targets between launching units operators. The Verba`s maximum range has been increased to 6 km due to the installation of a new jet engine. 9M336 missile has a flight ceiling of 3,500 m. Verba`s full ready-to-shoot weight (including launching unit, SAM and battery) is 17.25 kg (38 pounds).

According to the KBM`s Designer General, Vakery Kashin, the Verba`s SAM is 'fully digital". 9M336 is made of non-corrosive materials. The missile is controlled in autonomous mode after launch. The friend-or-foe identification system significantly reduces the blue fire probability.

Verba MANPADS can be exploited either separately or in the armament set of various combat modules. For instance, Igla-S system is incorporated in the 3M-47 Gibka naval system and in the Strelets launching unit for rotor-wing aircraft. "Verba will be developed in the same way", Kashin said. According to him, Verba was initialy designed as adjustable for different types of chassis.

Russian government has permitted the export of the Verba MANPADS. The launch customer for the system has been found, but Kashin did not name him.

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Several units of the Russian Armed Forces have received new VERBA 9K333 MANPADS in 2015 TASS 11103163.