9M120 Ataka

The 9M120 missile was developed by the Kolomna engineering design bureau, located in Kolomna. The missile has often been confused in the West with the 9A4172 Vikhr dual-purpose laser beam riding missile used on the Kamov helicopters and Sukhoi attack aircraft. These systems are completely unrelated in their design. New light multifunctional guided missiles with increased range – up to 25 kilometers – have been developed and received for Russian attack helicopters on the outcomes of the military operation in Syria. ==Description==

include four Ataka-T missiles with two mounted on each side. The Ataka missile is stored in a glass reinforced plastic tube, which also acts as its launcher. The missile is reported to be considerably faster than the 9K114 Shturm, with longer range than the original version. It still uses radio command guidance, but the system has been improved when compared to the earlier 9K114 Shturm. The system is carried by the multiple kinds of helicopters including the Mi-28 and Mi-35. It is also offered for ground vehicles like the BMPT and the 9P149. There are three main missiles that are compatible with the launch system. The first is a two-stage anti-armour weapon that features a tandem warhead for dealing with add-on armor. The second variant of the missile – designated as 9M120F – has a thermobaric warhead for use against infantry positions and bunkers. The third variant of the 9M120 Ataka is the 9M220, which features a proximity fused expanding rod warhead, providing the missile with Surface-to-Air capability against low- and slow-flying aircraft. ==Variants==

combat vehicle carries 12 Ataka missiles. • 9M127-1 Ataka-VM - New air to surface version for helicopters. ==General specifications==

attack helicopter carries 16 Ataka missiles for anti-tank missions. ==Operators==

Current operators ; • Algerian Air Force – used on Mi-24MKIII, Mi 171Sh2 and Mil Mi-28 helicopters. • Algerian Ground Forces – used on the BMPT Terminator. ; • Azerbaijani Air Forces – used on Mil Mi-35M helicopters. ; • Armed Forces of Belarus ; • Egyptian Air Force - used on Ka-52 and Mil Mi-24 helicopters. ; • Indian Air Force - Purchased in July 2019, deliveries began in December 2019. 20 Mil Mi-35 helicopters have been modified to deploy the missile as of July 2024. ; • Indonesian Army – Used on Mi-35P attack helicopters. ; Former operators ; • Brazilian Air Force – used on Mil Mi-35 helicopters. ; – Passed on to successor states. ==See also==