9K38 Igla

The 9K38 Igla is a Soviet/Russian man-portable infrared homing surface-to-air missile system. A simplified, earlier version is known as the 9K310 Igla-1, and the latest variant is the 9K338 Igla-S.
The Igla-1 entered service in 1981, the Igla in 1983, and the Igla-S in 2004. The Igla has been supplemented by the 9K333 Verba since 2014.

History

The development of the Igla short-range man-portable air defense system began in the Kolomna OKB in 1972. Contrary to what is commonly reported, the Igla is not an improved version of the earlier Strela family, but an all-new project. The main goals were to create a missile with better resistance to countermeasures and wider engagement envelope than the earlier Strela series MANPADS systems.
Technical difficulties in the development quickly made it obvious that the development would take far longer than anticipated, however, and in 1978 the program split in two: while the development of the full-capability Igla would continue, a simplified version with a simpler IR seeker based on that of the earlier Strela-3 would be developed to enter service earlier than the full-capability version could be finished.

Igla-1

The 9K310 Igla-1 system and its 9M313 missile were accepted into service in the Soviet Army on 11 March 1981. The main differences from the Strela-3 included an optional Identification Friend or Foe system to prevent firing on friendly aircraft, an automatic lead and super elevation to simplify shooting and reduce minimum firing range, a slightly larger rocket, reduced drag and better guidance system extend maximum range and improve performance against fast and maneuverable targets, an improved lethality on target achieved by a combination of delayed impact fuzing, terminal maneuver to hit the fuselage rather than jet nozzle, an additional charge to set off the remaining rocket fuel on impact, an improved resistance to infrared countermeasures, and slightly improved seeker sensitivity.
The seeker has two detectors – a cooled MWIR InSb detector for detection of the target and uncooled PbS SWIR detector for detection of IR decoys. The built-in logic determines whether the detected object is a target or a decoy. The latest version is reported to have additional detectors around the main seeker to provide further resistance against pulsed IRCM devices commonly used on helicopters.
The 9M313 missile features a drag-reducing aerospike mounted on a tripod, which reduces a shock wave, thus providing less dome heating and greater range. The name Igla is derived from these devices.
Like many other MANPADS, Igla-1 and Igla feature so-called rolling airframe missiles. These missiles roll in flight so steering the missile requires just a single pair of control surfaces, unlike roll-stabilized missiles, which require separate control surfaces for pitch and yaw. Both 9M313 and 9M39 missiles contain a gas generator, which drives a small gas turbine to provide electrical power, and the pistons, which move the canards used to steer the missile in a bang-bang mode. In addition to that, two exhaust tubes of the gas generator are placed perpendicular to the steering canards to provide maneuverability immediately after launch when the missile airspeed is too low for canards to be effective. Later versions of Igla are reported to use proportional control to drive the canards, which enables greater precision and less oscillation of the flight path.
According to the manufacturer, South African tests have shown the Igla's superiority over the contemporary but smaller and lighter American FIM-92A Stinger missile. According to Kolomna OKB, the Igla-1 has a P_k of 0.30 to 0.48 against unprotected targets which is reduced to 0.24 in the presence of decoy flares and jamming. In another report, the manufacturer claimed a P_k of 0.59 against an approaching and 0.44 against receding F-4 Phantom II fighter not employing infrared countermeasures or evasive maneuvers.

Igla

The full-capability 9K38 Igla with its 9M39 missile was finally accepted into service in the Soviet Army in 1983. The main improvements over the Igla-1 included much improved resistance against flares and jamming, a more sensitive seeker, expanding forward-hemisphere engagement, capability to include a tandem charge against armored targets, capability to engage straight-approaching fighters under favourable circumstances, a slightly longer range, a higher-impulse, shorter-burning rocket with higher peak velocity. The new 9E410 seeker operated in both IR and UV wavelengths, which decreased its susceptibility to flares, and was effective in countering lamp-style IR jammers. The Finnish Defense Forces--which operated the Igla in the army and the French Mistral in the navy--felt that the Igla's seeker was superior over the Mistral's.
The naval variant of 9K38 Igla has the NATO reporting name SA-N-10 Grouse.
The Igla–1M missile consists of a Ground Power Supply Source, Launching Tube, Launching Mechanism & Missile.
There is also a two-barrel 9K38 missile launcher called Dzhigit.

9K338 Igla-S (SA-24 Grinch)

The newest variant, which is a substantially improved variant with longer range, more sensitive seeker, improved resistance to latest countermeasures, and a heavier warhead. Manufacturer reports hit probability of 0.8–0.9. State tests were completed in December 2001 and the system entered service in 2002. Series produced by the Degtyarev plant since 1 December 2004.

Replacement

Since 2014 the Igla is being replaced in Russian service by the new 9K333 Verba MANPADS. The Verba's primary feature is its multispectral optical seeker, using three sensors as opposed to the Igla-S' two. Cross-checking sensors against one another better discriminates between relevant targets and decoys, and decreases the chance of disruption from countermeasures, including lasers that attempt to blind missiles.

Operational history

India

Operation Trishul Shakti (1992)

From 28 July 1992 to 2 August 1992 the Indian Army mounted Operation Trishul Shakti to protect the Bahadur post in Chulung when it was attacked by a large Pakistani assault team. On 1 August 1992, two Pakistani Lama helicopters were attacked by an Indian Igla missile battery and Brig. Masood Navid Anwari then Force Commander Northern Areas and other accompanying troops were killed. This led to a loss of momentum on the Pakistani side and the assault stalled.It was the first combat usage of an Igla system, as well as it the Igla's and the Indian Army's first MANPAD kill.

Iraq

Desert Storm (1991)

The first combat use of the Igla-1E was during the British Gulf War Operation Granby. On 17 January 1991, a Panavia Tornado bomber of the Royal Air Force was shot down by an Iraqi MANPADS that may have been an Igla-1E after an unsuccessful bombing mission. The crew, Flt Lts J G Peters and A J Nichol, were both captured and held as prisoners of war until the cessation of hostilities.
In addition, an Igla-1E shot down an American F-16 on 27 February 1991. The pilot was captured.
It is uncertain if an AC-130H lost was hit by a 'Strela' missile or a more recent Igla since Iraq had SA-7, SA-14 and SA-16 missiles at the time, according to the SIPRI database.

From 2003

Among the Coalition force losses to MANPADS during the Iraq War some were reported as losses to Igla-1E missiles.

Rwanda

Igla-1E missiles were used in the 1994 shoot down of a Rwandan government flight, killing the presidents of Rwanda and Burundi and sparking the Rwandan genocide.

Cenepa War

During the Cenepa War between Ecuador and Peru, both the Ecuadorian Army and the Peruvian Army utilized Igla-1E missiles against aircraft and helicopters.
A Peruvian Air Force Mi-25 attack helicopter was shot down on 7 February 1995 around Base del Sur, killing the three crewmen, while an Ecuadorian Air Force A-37 Dragonfly was hit but managed to land on 11 February. Hits on additional Ecuadorian aircraft were claimed but could not be confirmed.

Bosnia

On 16 April 1994 during the Siege of Goražde, while attempting to bomb a Serbian tank an RAF Sea Harrier was shot down by an Igla fired by the Army of Republika Srpska. The pilot ejected and was rescued by the Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
During Operation Deliberate Force, on 30 August 1995; a French Mirage 2000D was shot down over Pale by an Igla fired by air defence units of the Army of Republika Srpska. The pilots, Lt. Jose-Manuel Souvignet and Capt. Frederic Chiffot, were captured and freed in December 1995.

Yugoslavia

During Operation Allied Force, two A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft were hit by Igla-1E missiles. On 2 May 1999, one A-10 was hit over Kosovo and was forced to make an emergency landing at Skopje Airport in north Macedonia due to damage. The following day, an A-10 was hit beneath the cockpit, however serious damage was avoided due to the warhead failing to detonate.

Chechnya

The 2002 Khankala Mi-26 crash occurred on 19 August 2002 when a team of Chechen separatists brought down a Russian Mil Mi-26 helicopter in a minefield with an Igla; this resulted in the death of 127 Russian soldiers in the greatest loss of life in the history of helicopter aviation. It was also the most deadly aviation disaster ever suffered by the Russian armed forces.

Egypt

On 26 January 2014, the militant group Ansar Bait al-Maqdis shot down an Egyptian Mi-17 over the northern Sinai peninsula using a suspected Igla-1E or Igla. How the group came to obtain the weapon is currently unknown.

Libya

During the 2011 military intervention in Libya, Libyan loyalist forces engaged coalition aircraft with a certain number of Igla-S. Three Igla-S were fired against British Apache attack helicopters of the 656 Squadron Army Air Corps operating from the amphibious assault ship. According to the squadron commander at the time, they were all dodged by insistent use of decoy flares by the gunships who in exchange successfully engaged the shooters.
On 23 March 2015, a Libya Dawn-operated MiG-23UB was shot down with an Igla-S while bombing Al Watiya airbase, controlled by forces from the internationally recognized House of Representatives. Both pilots were killed.