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2015-06-14

DEADLY FLOWER ‘CHRYSANTHEMUM-S’

Ultimate weapon against all types of armoured vehicles and helicopters

The Khrizantema could possibly change tactics of tank war, as a small group of three or four of these anti-tank missile carriers can alter the outcome of the battle, its developers claim.

They say that three launcher vehicles are capable of engaging 14 main battle tanks and destroying no less than 60 per cent of them. This missile system can also engage low-flying helicopters.

The Khrizantema-S is the most powerful Russian long-range supersonic anti-tank missile system the world has ever known. The letter S in the name stands for ‘self-propelled’, which means that the mobile Khrizantema (which translates as ‘chrysanthemum’ in English) mounted on Russia’s new BMP-3 infantry fighting vehicle is equally at ease driving off-road at speeds of up to 70 kilometres per hour and forcing rivers and other water obstacles. Two water-jet engines are installed at the rear of the vehicle, which can cover up to 600 kilometres.

But it is not these characteristics that makes the Khrizantema the ultimate weapon against all types of armoured vehicles and helicopters.

POWERFUL

Its NATO designation is the AT-15 Springer. It has been designed to deal with the latest and future main battle tanks. Development of this missile system commenced in the late 1980s and it was revealed in 1996, intended to replace the ageing Shturm-S (AT-6 Spiral) anti-tank missile carriers.

The Khrizantema is considered as one of the most powerful systems in the world in its class. It is reported that the Khrizantema was accepted to service with the Russian Army in 2005 but it remains unknown how many units are fielded. The Kheizantema has been exported to Libya (14) and Azerbaijan ordered a number of the ATGW carriers.

The Khrizantema launches supersonic missiles with a range of 400-6 000 meters. Average speed of flight is 400 m/s. Missiles are propelled by a solid fuel rocket motor. The Khrizantema is intended to be operated day and night and in all weather conditions, also in various natural and man-made countermeasures environments.

Missiles of the Khrizantema can be guided in two independent modes, either by laser (semi-automatic) or radar (fully automatic). This dual guidance system ensures protection against electronic countermeasures. Various missiles are available for this system. The 9M123 and 9M123-2 are the standard missiles with a tandem HEAT warheads. These missiles are used against armored vehicles.

The only difference between these missiles is the laser guidance, used on the 9M123 and radar guidance, used on the 9M123-2. Developers claim, that the tandem HEAT missiles are capable of penetrating 1 100-1 200 mm of rolled homogenous armor behind explosive reactive armor. It is sufficient to defeat MBTs of the latest generation, such as the M1A2 Abrams and Leopard 2A6.

THERMOBARIC WARHEADS

Also there are 9M123F and 9M123F-2 missiles with thermobaric warheads, used against building, fortifications, lightly armored vehicles and entrenched personnel. In the same manner the 9M123F has a laser guidance and the 9M123F-2 has radar guidance.

The system is equipped with 15 ultrasonic 152-millimetre missiles held in sabots. It is noteworthy that these missiles can cover a distance of 4.5 kilometres in just 10 seconds. The missiles are positioned in the rear part of the vehicle and have a maximum range of eight kilometres . This is considered more than enough, given that no tank can be seen in the optical range from a large distance in rugged terrain, and it can only use its weapons from within three kilometres or less.

Each missile is fitted with a devastatingly powerful tandem HEAT warhead. As the manufacturer explains, the first charge is designed to destroy reactive armour and the second burns the targeted tank down. During tests, the system showed no difficulty blasting 120-millimetre-thick armour, meaning it is capable of demolishing any modern tank carrying reactive armour.

The brains behind this weapon system argue that the system’s biggest advantage lies in its ability to detect and engage targets in zero optical visibility. Such conditions may occur due to bad weather, such as snow, rain and fog, or when the enemy uses smoke screening or aerosol clouds to camouflage its equipment. Most modern anti-tank missiles have optical or laser guidance heads, which means they can be ‘blinded’ – the Khrizantema cannot.

BIGGEST INNOVATION

The Russian fighting vehicle has two targeting channels: an optical channel with laser guidance and an electronic channel. The latter represents the biggest innovation introduced into the system - as the radar operates in the millimetre range (100–150 GHz), it does not miss targets.

The relevant data is processed and transmitted to the system control panel, so that the operator only has to lock the detected targets by marking them on the LCD display and press the launch button – the electronics will do the rest.

During the trial, a Khrisantema missile blew up a tank that had as many as 60 dynamic protection elements installed. This is a record among all guided anti-tank systems both in Russia and the rest of the world. To make the picture complete, the Khrizantema’s 152-millimatre tandem warheads were designed by specialists from the Federal Nuclear Centre in Sarov.

Thanks to its two targeting channels, the Khrizantema can detect and shell two targets at once with a four-second interval between shots. Moreover, the system is capable of launching missiles while moving across land or water. An artillery battery of three Khrizantema-S fighting vehicles has enough combat power to repel an attack of a 14-strong tank squadron. And if the system used missiles with blast or thermobaric warheads, it could also be effective against infantry.

The Khrizantema was put into service in 2006, but mass supplies to the Russian military started only last year. Even so, the design bureau is already hard at work on new modifications to the system. For example, it has been proposed to adapt the Khrizantema for any platform with a load capacity of three tonnes or more. Some examples include a conventional lorry, a helicopter and even a motorboat.

Two missiles are carried on the launch rails in combat order. The Khrizantema can launch two missiles against two targets simultaneously. This missile system can also target low-flying helicopters. It carries 15 missiles inside the hull, and can engage up to 15 targets within few minutes.

FULLY AMPHIBIOUS

Launcher rails are reloaded automatically from a magazine, located inside the hull. However in case of emergency missiles can be reloaded manually from outside of the vehicle. In travelling order both missiles and radar are folded to the stowed position.

The Khrizantema anti-tank missile system is based on a modified BMP-3 IFV chassis and features high mobility and maneuverability. Vehicle is powered by UTD-29 V10 turbocharged diesel engine, developing 500 hp.

It has a hydropneumatic suspension system, which can be adjusted to suit the type of terrain being crossed. Vehicle is fully amphibious. On water it is propelled by two waterjets. Amphibious speed on water is about 10 km/h.

The Khrizantema ATGM system can be also mounted on other wheeled or tracked chassis with similar payload capacity. This missile system is operated by a crew of two, including commander and diver. Protection of this vehicle is similar to that of the BMP-3. It is also equipped with an NBC protection and automatic fire suppression systems.

The Russian Army has acquired a small number of Kornet-T anti-tank missile carriers. These are also based on the BMP-3 chassis, but use different Kornet anti-tank missiles. It is likely that Kornet ATGW carriers will be used by motorized units, while Khrizantemas will be used by artillery units of the Russian Army.

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