Ukraine Develops Air Defense Missile for Desna System and Upgrades Strela-10 Systems

Ukroboronprom unveiled a new missile for the upgraded Strela-10 anti-aircraft missile systems and the new Desna systems.

This was reported by a Militarnyi correspondent covering the MSPO exhibition in Poland.

The RK-2PZ anti-aircraft missile was developed based on the Barrier anti-tank missile, which, in turn, is a modification of the R-2 missile family from the Luch Design Bureau.

The missile has a caliber of 130 mm, and the warhead weighs 6.1 kg.

After target acquisition, the operator selects a target for automatic tracking using a control panel via the television or thermal imaging channel of the optical sighting station.

The anti-aircraft missile is then launched from a launch container and guided using a laser guidance system.

A non-contact target sensor is activated as the missile approaches the target, and in the event of a direct hit, a contact sensor is triggered, initiating the high-explosive fragmentation warhead.

The missile itself weighs 28.9 kg, and the missile in the container weighs 47 kg.

The missile is used on modified Strela-10 air defense systems, also known as Rif.

The Rif air defense system retains the MTLB chassis, the launcher’s rotating mechanism, and the operator’s station from its predecessor.

The system underwent its first live-fire tests in December 2021.

The Desna air defense missile system is a new module for the RK-2PZ missiles, mounted on a chassis that has not yet been demonstrated.

Currently, the specifications of the air defense missile system and its ammunition have not been publicly disclosed.

The Rif air defense system was first shown in service by soldiers of the 101st Separate Anti-Aircraft Missile Division of the 30th Marine Corps in June of this year.