Description
The 9M123 missile itself is supersonic, flying at an average speed of 400 m/s or Mach 1.2 and a range of between 400 and 6000 meters. Propulsion is by way of a single solid fuel rocket motor with two exhausts on either side of the missile. The off-set exhausts cause the missile to spin during flight with guidance control provided by two pop-out control surfaces at the rear of the missile (four additional surfaces help stabilise the missile during flight). The Khrizantema is unique among Russian anti-tank guided missiles as depending on the variant the missile can either be guided by laser or radar. The radar guidance mode uses radio command guidance and a millimeter wave radar to track the target and the missile while generating guidance commands, this allows fully automatic target engagement. When guided using the a laser, targets need to be continually illuminated, a sensor in the rear section enables the missile to ride the laser beam to the target, this is a SACLOS guidance system. The guidance system allows two missiles to be fired at two separate targets at once with one missile guided by laser and the other by radar. Each missile carries a tandem HEAT with a reported penetration of 1100–1250 mm RHA behind explosive reactive armour (ERA), alternatively a thermobaric warhead can be carried to engage soft-skinned targets, fortifications and manpower.
The 9M123 missile together with its associated guidance system forms the 9K123 missile system. It is currently only launched from the 9P157-2 Khrizantema-S tank destroyer, based on the BMP-3 chassis. The 9P157-2 carries two 9M123 missiles on launch rails which are extended from a stowed position, the radar is also stowed during transit. Missile are re-loaded automatically by the tank destroyer from an internal magazine with 15 rounds (missiles are stored and transported in sealed canisters) and can also accept munitions manually loaded from outside the vehicle. The manufacturer claims that three 9P157-2 tank destroyers are able to engage 14 attacking tanks and destroy at least sixty percent of the attacking force. The dual guidance system ensures protection against electronic countermeasures and operation in all climatic conditions, day or night. NBC protection is provided for the crew (gunner and driver) of each 9P157-2 in addition to full armour protection equivalent to the standard BMP-3 chassis and entrenching equipment.
Read more about this topic: 9M123 Khrizantema
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