2K12

2K12 Kub, known to NATO as the SA-6 Gainful, is a mobile medium‑range surface‑to‑air missile system developed by the Soviet Union during the 1960s. It was designed to provide threat‑layer air defense for ground forces, logistics hubs, and important facilities. The system entered service in the late 1960s and was widely deployed within the Soviet Union and in allied and exported batteries, remaining in service in various forms for decades.

The Kub system is built around a self‑propelled battery that includes a search/track radar, a command post, and a launcher vehicle carrying six missiles. The missiles used are typically 3M9 family projectiles guided by ground‑based radio command guidance from the radar and control vehicles. The system emphasizes rapid deployment, mobility, and the ability to engage aircraft and some missiles at medium ranges and altitudes.

Over the years, several upgraded variants and modernization programs were developed to improve reliability, electronics, and counter‑measures resistance, as well as to extend range and altitude performance. These variants were often designated with suffixes or alternate designations (for example Kub‑M and related export versions), reflecting geopolitical and technical updates while keeping the core concept intact.

Operational history covers widespread use across the Eastern Bloc and in many non‑aligned states. The Kub saw combat service in various regional conflicts from the 1960s onward, including deployments in the Middle East and Africa. As newer air‑defense systems emerged, many operators phased out the Kub in favor of more advanced platforms, though some batteries remained in service or reserve in several countries. The 2K12 influenced subsequent Soviet and allied mobile SAM designs and remains part of the historical development of fielded air‑defense capabilities.