Strela10

The Strela-10 is a Soviet/Russian short-range, low-altitude surface-to-air missile system. It is often referred to by its NATO reporting name, SA-9 Gaskin. The system is mounted on a tracked amphibious vehicle, the MT-LB, providing mobility across various terrains. Its primary role is to engage low-flying aircraft, helicopters, and drones.

The Strela-10 system typically consists of a vehicle equipped with a radar system for target acquisition and tracking, and a rotating launcher carrying four ready-to-fire missiles. A crew of three operates the system: a commander, gunner, and driver. The missiles themselves are infrared-guided, meaning they home in on the heat emitted by the target aircraft. This guidance method makes them effective against targets with significant heat signatures but can be susceptible to countermeasures such as flares.

Development of the Strela-10 began in the 1960s as an evolution of earlier Soviet short-range SAM systems. It entered service with the Soviet Army in the early 1970s and has since been exported to numerous countries. While considered a relatively older system, it has undergone various upgrades and modifications throughout its service life. Variants of the Strela-10 have been observed with different sensor suites and missile improvements. The system has seen combat use in various conflicts around the world.