9M117 Bastion - Development

Development

The 9K112 Kobra (AT-8 Songster) was the first Soviet tube fired anti-tank missile to enter service, however it was only deployed in limited numbers to front line units. Development work began in the late 1970s on a third generation of guided projectiles that would use laser guidance rather than radio command links. The guidance system was developed by Igor Aristarkhov, and the missile was developed by Petr Komonov. The Bastion was developed firstly as a relatively cheap missile fired from towed 100 mm smoothbore AT-guns MT-12. The missile 9M117 was a part of 3UBK10 round and a whole weapon system was designated 9K116 Kastet. A laser guidance device was seated on a tripod next to the gun. The system was commissioned in 1981.

During development of the 9K116 system it was recognized, that it could enhance the long range firepower of the older T-55 and T-62 tanks. The system for 100 mm rifled gun D-10T of T-55 was designated 9K116-1 Bastion (3UBK10-1 round), and for 115 mm smoothbore gun U-5TS of T-62 - 9K116-2 Sheksna (3UBK10-2 round). The missiles 9M117 were identical, as in the towed version, only the 115 mm version had additional guiding rings. They were commissioned in 1983. Then, 9K-116-3 system was developed for 100 mm smoothbore gun of the BMP-3 infantry fighting vehicle, commissioned in 1987. Similar systems, with larger missiles 9M119 Svir, were developed for 125 mm guns of T-72 and T-80 tanks.