9M113 Konkurs

"Konkurs" redirects here. For the 2008 Lifelover album, see Konkurs (album).

9M113 Konkurs
9M113 Konkurs in Belarusian service
Type	Anti-tank missile
Place of origin	Soviet Union
Service history
In service	1974–present
Used by	See operators
Wars	Syrian Civil War[1] Iraqi Civil War[1] War in Donbass[2] Yemeni Civil War Saudi-led intervention in Yemen 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh conflict Russo-Ukrainian War
Production history
Designed	1970
Manufacturer	Tula Machinery Design Bureau (Tula KBP) – Tulsky Oruzheiny Zavod Bharat Dynamics Limited[3]
Variants	9M113M
Specifications (AT-5A Spandrel)
Mass	14.6 kg (32 lb) (Missile weight) 22.5 kg (50 lbs) (9P135 launching post)[4]
Length	1,150 mm (45 in) 875 mm (34.4 in) without gas generator
Diameter	135 mm (5.3 in)
Wingspan	468 mm (18.4 in)
Warhead	2.7 kg (6.0 lb) 9N131 HEAT
Detonation mechanism	Contact
Engine	Solid-fuel rocket
Operational range	70 m (230 ft) to 4 km (2.5 mi)
Maximum speed	208 m/s (680 ft/s)[2]
Guidance system	Wire-guided SACLOS
Steering system	Two control surfaces
Launch platform	Individual, vehicle

The 9M113 Konkurs (Russian: 9М113 «Конкурс»; English: "Contest"; NATO reporting name AT-5 Spandrel) is a Soviet SACLOS wire-guided anti-tank missile.^[5]

A development of the 9K111 Fagot with greater firepower, the 9M113 Konkurs can use the same launchers and is very similar visually, distinguishable only by a slight bulge towards the end of the Konkurs' missile tube.

Development

The 9M113 Konkurs was developed by the Tula Machinery Design Bureau (Tula KBP). Development began with the aim of producing the next generation of SACLOS anti-tank missiles, for use in both the man-portable role and the tank destroyer role. The 9M113 Konkurs was developed alongside the 9M111; the missiles use similar technology, differing only in size.

The original 9M113 with a single-charge warhead can penetrate 600 mm of rolled homogeneous armor (RHA).^[2]

The missile entered service in 1974. Iran bought a license for the Konkurs in 1991 and began producing a copy, the Tosan (not to be confused with the Toophan), sometime around 2000.^[6][7]

In 1992, the export price of a 9M113 missile was $13,000 United States dollars and the price of a 9P135M launcher was $135,000.^[5]

Design

9M113 Konkurs launching rails on the top of 9P148 vehicle

The missile is designed to be fired from tracked/wheeled vehicles,^[8] although it can also be fired from the later models of 9M111 launchers. It is an integral part of the BMP-2, BMD-2 and BRDM-2 vehicles. The missile is stored and carried in a fiberglass container/launch tube.

The system uses a gas generator to push the missile out of the launch tube.^[5] The gas also exits from the rear of the launch tube in a similar manner to a recoilless rifle. The missile leaves the launch tube at 80 meters per second, and is quickly accelerated to 200 meters per second by its solid fuel motor. This initial high speed reduces the missile's deadzone, since it can be launched directly at the target, rather than in an upward arc. In flight, the missile spins at between five and seven revolutions per second.

The launcher tracks the position of an incandescent infrared bulb on the back of the missile relative to the target and transmits appropriate commands to the missile via a thin wire that trails behind the missile. The system has an alarm that activates when it detects jamming from a system like Shtora. The operator can then take manual control, reducing the missile to MCLOS. The SACLOS guidance system has many benefits over MCLOS. The system's accuracy is quoted in some sources as 90%, though its performance is probably comparable to the BGM-71 TOW or later SACLOS versions of the 9K11 Malyutka.

Models

9M113M ATGM for Konkurs-M

• 9M113 Konkurs (NATO: AT-5 Spandrel, AT-5A Spandrel A)
• 9M113M Konkurs-M (NATO: AT-5B Spandrel B) Tandem warhead – with extended explosive probe. The warhead penetration is 750–800 mm vs RHA. Adopted in 1991.^[9] Missile 9M113M 1990. Tandem (800 mm (behind a layer of ERA)). 4,000 m (3500 m night (passive)).^[9]
• Towsan-1, Tosan, Towsan, or M113: Iranian licensed^[2] 9M113M Konkurs-M (AT-5B Spandrel B) copy.^[10] Introduced in early 2000.^[6][11] Unclear if still in production.^[12][13] Used primarily by paratroopers and armored vehicles.^[14]
• 9N131M1 – Warhead, upgraded version.^[2]
• 9N131M2-1 – Warhead, the newest upgraded version.^[2]

Operators

Armenian 9P148 Konkurs in Yerevan

Current operators

•  Algeria^[15]: 340
•  Armenia^[16]: 183
•  Azerbaijan^[16]: 185
•  Belarus^[16]: 187 The launcher has been locally produced and upgraded.^[17] Procured the upgraded 9M113M [AT-5 Spandrel] ATGMs and delivered them to the troops.^[18]
•  Bulgaria: Known to be produced by VMZ Sopot.^{[5][19]: 92}
•  Croatia^[19]: 93
•  Czech Republic^[19]: 97
• Egypt^[20] Mostly purchased in 1990s and captured from ISIS members
•  Eritrea^[21]: 475
•  Georgia^[16]: 189
•  Guinea^[21]: 481
•  Hungary^[19]: 115
•  India – 15,000 Konkurs-M, ordered in 2008 for Rs 1,380-crore.^[22][23] Another 10,000 Konkurs-M ordered for US$250 million in 2012.^[24] A new contract was signed in 2019 for USD 110 mln and another large contract was signed in early 2022 for USD 418,6 mln.^[25] Used on BMP-2 Sarath
•  Iran^[15]: 349 – produced domestically as Tosan (missile)
•  Ivory Coast (reported)^[21]: 471
•  Kurdistan: Peshmerga ^[26]
•  Kazakhstan^{[16]: 190 [27]}
•  Kyrgyzstan^[16]: 192
•  Libya^[15]: 364
•  Morocco^[28]
•  Moldova^[16]: 193 – used on BRDM-2
•  Montenegro^[19]: 127
•  North Korea^[29]
•  Pakistan – Used on Viper infantry fighting vehicle^[30]
•  Romania^[19]: 139
•  Russia – about 300 Konkurs-M complexes delivered annually in the last years (2014)^[31]
•  Slovakia^[19]: 143
•  Turkmenistan^[16]: 210
•  Syria^{[15]: 377 [32]}
•  Ukraine^{[16]: 212–213}
•  Vietnam^[33]
•  United Arab Emirates^[34]

Former operators

•  East Germany^[35]: 46 – Passed on to the reunified German state, and later phased out of service.
•  Czechoslovakia – 80 in 1989.^[35]: 46 Passed on to successor states.
•  Finland^[35]: 86
•  Poland^[35]: 50
•  Soviet Union^[35]: 34 – Passed on to successor states.

Non-State operators

• Hamas – Known to be used against Israeli armored vehicles.^[36][37]
•  Houthis – Tosan version.^{[38][39][40][12]}
•  Islamic State^[41]
• Kurdistan Workers' Party^[42]
• People's Defense Units (YPG)^[43]
• Syrian National Army^[44]: 357
• Tahrir al-Sham^[44]: 357

See also

• 9M133 Kornet
• List of Russian weaponry

References

1. "Etat islamique: comment les djihadistes emploient les missiles antichars pour appuyer leurs offensives". France-Soir (in French). 4 May 2017. Archived from the original on 6 September 2018. Retrieved 6 September 2018.
2. Introduction to the 9M113 Konkurs ATGM Archived 2017-07-09 at the Wayback Machine - Armamentresearch.com, 28 July 2016
3. Aero India (PDF). pp.23. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 June 2021.
4. "AT-5 SPANDREL Anti-Tank Guided Missile". fas.org. Federation of American Scientists (FAS). Archived from the original on 1 January 2019. Retrieved 15 December 2018.
5. "Introduction to the 9M113 Konkurs ATGM". Armament Research Services (ARES). 27 July 2016. Retrieved 3 April 2023.
6. "Tosan - Anti Armour Guided Missile". Modlex. MXF05-000060. Archived from the original on 18 December 2012.
7. Chistopher F. Foss, Jane's Defence Weekly, Another ATGW for IranAnother ATGW for Iran at the Wayback Machine (archived December 5, 2004)
8. "AT-5 Spandrel / 9K113 Konkurs 9M113". armyrecognition.com. 12 January 2019. Retrieved 3 April 2023.
9. "Противотанковый ракетный комплекс Конкурс-М - Ракетная техника". rbase.new-factoria.ru. Archived from the original on 1 January 2017. Retrieved 22 November 2014.
10. Jane's Missiles and Rockets, 2002
11. "Another ATGW for Iran – Jane's Military Aerospace". 26 May 2000. Archived from the original on 7 February 2003.
12. "Saudi-led Coalition seizes Iranian arms en route to Yemen – Armament Research Services". armamentresearch.com. 30 September 2015. Archived from the original on 9 July 2017. Retrieved 28 February 2017.
13. TASS. "Iran to continue local production of Russian anti-tank missiles 9M11 and 9M113 TASS 10603161 – March 2016 Global Defense Security news industry – Defense Security global news industry army 2016 – Archive News year". www.armyrecognition.com. Archived from the original on 27 March 2018. Retrieved 29 March 2018.
14. Galen Wright, Iranian Military Capability 2011 – Ground Forces – March 15th 2011
15. International Institute for Strategic Studies (2020). "Chapter Seven: Middle East and North Africa". The Military Balance. 120 (1): 340–377. doi:10.1080/04597222.2020.1707968. S2CID 219624897.
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17. "Janes | Latest defence and security news". Archived from the original on 17 May 2019. Retrieved 20 May 2019.
18. "Analysis: Belarus receives two first Su-30SM fighters". airrecognition.com.
19. International Institute for Strategic Studies (2020). "Chapter Four: Europe". The Military Balance. 120 (1): 92–143. doi:10.1080/04597222.2020.1707964. S2CID 219623996.
20. "Egypt army successfully installs AT-4 Spandrel to Fahd APCs". EgyptToday. 19 July 2018. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
21. International Institute for Strategic Studies (2020). "Chapter Nine: Sub-Saharan Africa". The Military Balance. 120 (1): 475–481. doi:10.1080/04597222.2020.1707971. S2CID 219623431.
22. Pandit, Rajat (17 August 2010), "India to order large number of Javelin anti-tank missiles from US", The Times of India, archived from the original on 12 September 2012, retrieved 5 June 2012
23. Pandit, Rajat (27 January 2009), "India goes for 'urgent' purchase of anti-tank missiles", The Times of India, archived from the original on 30 September 2013, retrieved 5 June 2012
24. "CCS Clears USD 250 Million Konkur Missiles for Army". DefenceNow. 26 October 2012. Archived from the original on 5 November 2012. Retrieved 27 October 2012.
25. "ЦАМТО / / СВ Индии получат дополнительную партию ПТУР «Конкурс-М»". armstrade.org.
26. Military Balance 2016, p. 491.
27. Small Arms Survey (2012). "Blue Skies and Dark Clouds: Kazakhstan and Small Arms". Small Arms Survey 2012: Moving Targets. Cambridge University Press. p. 131. ISBN 978-0-521-19714-4. Archived from the original (PDF) on 31 August 2018. Retrieved 30 August 2018.
28. Josep Baqués Quesada (25 February 2018). "La modernización del Ejército de Tierra de Marruecos: datos e inferencias para una mirada estratégica". Análisis Grupo de Estudios en Seguridad Internacional (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 18 August 2018. Retrieved 23 May 2019.
29. International Institute for Strategic Studies (2020). "Chapter Six: Asia". The Military Balance. 120 (1): 285. doi:10.1080/04597222.2020.1707967. S2CID 219627149.
30. "Janes | Latest defence and security news". Archived from the original on 18 April 2019. Retrieved 18 April 2019.
31. "Заказ на противотанковые ракетные комплексы "Конкурс-М" вырос в разы - Еженедельник "Военно-промышленный курьер"". vpk-news.ru. Archived from the original on 1 January 2017. Retrieved 21 November 2014.
32. Small Arms Survey (2015). "Trade Update: After the 'Arab Spring'" (PDF). Small Arms Survey 2015: weapons and the world (PDF). Cambridge University Press. p. 107. Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 January 2018. Retrieved 29 August 2018.
33. "Tên lửa chống tăng 9M113 Konkurs Việt Nam lần đầu xuất hiện - DVO - Báo Đất Việt". baodatviet.vn. Archived from the original on 27 June 2020.
34. SIPRI Arms Transfers Database
35. Institute for Strategic Studies (1989). The military balance, 1989-1990. London: Brassey's. ISBN 978-0080375694.
36. "The Combat Performance of Hamas in the Gaza War of 2014". 29 September 2014. Archived from the original on 30 August 2020. Retrieved 18 April 2020.
37. "Missiles and Rockets of Hezbollah".
38. News Of Yemen (30 January 2016). "Yemen war 2016 Houthi fighters use Russian KONKURS ATGM to destroy Saudi army Abrams Tank". Archived from the original on 30 March 2017. Retrieved 12 March 2017 – via YouTube.
39. "War Is Boring - From drones to AKs, high technology to low politics". War Is Boring. Archived from the original on 7 September 2016. Retrieved 28 February 2017.
40. Behnam Ben Taleblu. "Discerning Iran's Role in Expanding Houthi Rocket Capabilities - Foundation for Defense of Democracies". www.defenddemocracy.org. Archived from the original on 1 March 2017. Retrieved 28 February 2017.
41. Mitzer, Stijn; Oliemans, Joost. "Vehicles and equipment captured by the Islamic State inside Syria until November 2014". Oryx Blog.
42. "Northern Iraq PKK-Weapon Caches of Operation 'Claw Tiger'". Silah Report. 27 August 2020. Retrieved 27 May 2021.
43. Mitzer, Stijn; Oliemans, Joost (29 October 2021). "Kurdish Armour: Inventorising YPG Equipment In Northern Syria". Oryx Blog.
44. International Institute for Strategic Studies (15 February 2023). The Military Balance 2023 (1st ed.). Routledge. ISBN 978-1032508955.

Sources

• Hull, A.W., Markov, D.R., Zaloga, S.J. (1999). Soviet/Russian Armor and Artillery Design Practices 1945 to Present. Darlington Productions. ISBN 1-892848-01-5.
• International Institute for Strategic Studies (February 2016). The Military Balance 2016. Vol. 116. Routledge. ISBN 9781857438352.

External links

• ATGM launcher vehicle "KONKURS" (BRDM-2) – Walk around photos
• AT-5 SPANDREL Anti-Tank Guided Missile
• PTRK Konkurs (in Russian)