9K33 Osa-AK Missile System

9K33 Osa-AK Missile System Latest News

The Indian Army’s Air Defence warriors from the White Tiger Division have proven their operational readiness and technical expertise during a recent live missile-firing exercise which involved the firing of the 9K33 Osa-AK missile system.

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”. 

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9K33 Osa-AK Missile System 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.

9K33 Osa-AK Missile System FAQs

Q1. What type of missile system is the 9K33 Osa-AK?

Ans.Short-range tactical surface-to-air defense system.

Q2. What is the NATO reporting name for the 9K33 Osa-AK?

Ans. SA-8 Gecko

Q3. What is the maximum engagement range of the Osa-AK missile system?

Ans. 12 km

Source: RW