Engineering:9M123 Khrizantema

9M123 Khrizantema
The 9M123 missile
Type	Anti-tank missile
Place of origin	Russia
Service history
In service	2005–present
Used by	Russia
Wars	Libyan Civil War
Production history
Designer	KBM (Kolomna)
Designed	1996
Manufacturer	KBM
Produced	2005-present
Variants	9M123, 9M123-2, 9M123F, 9M123F-2
Specifications (9M123)
Mass	46 kg (101 lb) (54 kg (119 lb) with launch tube)
Length	2,057 mm (6.749 ft)
Diameter	150 mm (5.9 in)
Warhead	Tandem HEAT (9M123), Thermobaric (9M123F)
Warhead weight	8 kg (18 lb) (9M123) 6 kg (13 lb) (9M123F)
Detonation mechanism	Impact fuze
Wingspan	310 mm (12 in)
Propellant	Solid-fuel rocket
Operational range	400-6,000 m (3.7 mi)
Speed	400 m/s (Mach 1.2)
Guidance system	ACLOS radar beam riding , SACLOS laser beam riding
Steering system	Two control surfaces
Accuracy	<5 m
Launch platform	BMP-3 9P157-2 tank destroyer, Mil Mi-28

The 9M123 Khrizantema (Russian: "Хризантема"; English: Chrysanthemum, NATO reporting name AT-15 Springer) is a Russian anti-tank guided missile. Khrizantema was designed to deal with current and future generations of main battle tanks and can also be used to engage slow and low flying aerial targets like helicopters. The 9M123 missile together with its associated guidance system forms the 9K123 missile system.

Development

The Khrizantema anti-tank missile was unveiled in July 1996 by the Konstruktorskoye Byuro Mashynostroyenia (KB Mashinostroyeniya - KBM) Engineering Design Bureau. The missile had started development in the 1980s and was designed as an all weather, multi-purpose missile system that could defeat current and future armoured units equipped with advanced armour protection, such as Explosive Reactive Armour (ERA). Khrizantema was envisaged as a replacement for a variety of different types of anti-tank missiles that remained in service with the Russian military, such as the 9K114 Shturm and the 9M120 Ataka-V. The system entered service with the Russian armed forces in 2005.

Description

The 9M123 missile is supersonic, flying at an average speed of 400 m/s or Mach 1.2 and has a range of between 400 and 6,000 meters. Propulsion is achieved by way of a single solid fuel rocket motor with two exhausts on either side of the missile. The off-set exhausts cause the missile to spin during flight. Guidance control is provided by two pop-out control surfaces at the rear of the missile. Four additional surfaces, just in front of the controls, help stabilize the missile during flight. The Khrizantema is unique among Russian anti-tank guided missiles as, depending on the variant of the missile, it can either be guided by laser or radar. The radar unit uses the millimeter wave band and the system automatically tracks the target and guides the missile in the radar beam; this form of guidance is LOSBR (Line-Of-Sight Beam Riding) that is ACLOS (Automatic Command to Line-Of-Sight). When guided using a laser, a continuous laser beam is generated towards the target and a sensor in the rear section enables the missile to ride the laser beam to the target; this form of guidance is LOSBR that is SACLOS (Semi-Automatic Command to Line-Of-Sight). This dual guidance system allows two missiles to be fired at two separate targets at once, with one missile guided by laser and the other by radar. Each missile carries a tandem HEAT warhead with a reported penetration of 1100–1250 mm RHA (Rolled Homogeneous Armour) behind ERA. Alternatively, a thermobaric warhead can be carried to engage soft-skinned targets, fortifications and manpower.

9P157-2 "Khrizantema-S" variant of the BMP-3

It is currently launched from the 9P157-2 Khrizantema-S tank destroyer, Mi-28 Havoc attack helicopter and most likely in the near future from the Ka-52 Alligator attack helicopter as well. The 9P157-2 Khrizantema-S is based on the BMP-3 chassis. The 9P157-2 carries two 9M123 missiles on launch rails, which are extended from a stowed position, the radar is also stowed during transit. Missiles are re-loaded automatically by the tank destroyer from an internal magazine with 15 rounds (missiles are stored and transported in sealed canisters) and can also accept munitions manually loaded from outside the vehicle. The manufacturer claims that three 9P157-2 tank destroyers are able to engage 14 attacking tanks and destroy at least sixty percent of the attacking force. The dual guidance system ensures protection against electronic countermeasures and operation in all climatic conditions, day or night. NBC protection is provided for the crew (gunner and driver) of each 9P157-2 in addition to full armour protection equivalent to the standard BMP-3 chassis and entrenching equipment.

Trials of a modernized version completed in 2016. On the upgraded version were installed an IIR/TV sight with a laser rangefinder, a modified radar control system, an increased secrecy laser beam-riding channel, an automated battle management equipment set and a more powerful warhead for the 9M123 missile among others.

Variants

• 9M123 - Laser guidance with tandem HEAT warhead.
• 9M123-2 - Radar guidance with tandem HEAT warhead.
• 9M123F - Laser guidance with thermobaric warhead.
• 9M123F-2 - Radar guidance with thermobaric warhead.
• 9M123 Khrizantema-M - Upgraded version with extended range and combination of wave radar along with laser beam riding guidance.
• 9M123 Khrizantema-VM - Air to surface version for helicopters.

Operators

Map with 9M123 operators in blue

Current operators

• Azerbaijan
• Libya - 14 machines
• Russia - About 50 machines

See also

• AT-14 Kornet
• AGM-114 Hellfire

External links

• Konstruktorskoye Byuro Mashynostroyenia
• YouTube Khrizantema-s