Iraqis Have SA-18 SAM's

MSNBC | 3/27/03 | Bob Arnot

[tomahawk]

Bob Arnot, reporting live from Iraq for MSNBC, just reported that the U.S. has found SA-18 SAM's in some Iraqi trenches.

He described this weapon as being very sophisticated, capable of discerning between chaff and other countermeasures that our aircraft use. He described this weapon as being a real threat to Coalition aircraft.

Questions:

1. What are the specs & capabilities of this weapon?

2. Where did the Iraqis get them from?

[ez]

Who makes them?

[BikerNYC]

2. Where did the Iraqis get them from?

Walmart?

[prophetic]

Where did the Iraqis get them from?

Gee, just gimme a minute to think about that REAL hard now....

[tomahawk]

I believe Russia makes them. But they may have obtained them from other counties. Which ones (Ukraine, Syria, Belarus)?

[Keith]

Gee...sophisticated SAMS...hmmm....I wonder who could have supplied them to themmmm....

...could it be....SATAN!!!(Russia)

[demlosers]

---

SA-18 GROUSE
Igla 9K38
SA-N-10 GROUSE
Igla-M

The SA-18 GROUSE (Igla 9K38) is an improved variant in the the SA-7 & SA-14 series of manportable SAMs. As with the earlier SA-14, the SA-18 uses of a similar thermal battery/gas bottle, and the SA-18 has the same 2 kilogram high-explosive warhead fitted with a contact and grazing fuse. But the missile of entirely new design with substantially improved range and speed,. The new seeker and aerodynamic improvements extend its effective range, and its higher speed enables it to be used against faster targets. The SA-18 has a maximum range of 5200 meters and a maximum altitude of 3500 meters. The 9M39 missile SA-18 employs an IR guidance system using proportional convergence logic. The new seeker offers better protection against electro-optical jammers; the probability of kill against an unprotected fighter is estimated at 30-48%, and the use of IRCM jammers only degrades this to 24-30%.

The Igla-M [SA-N-10 ] is the naval version of the SA-18.

Specifications
Contractor
Entered Service
Total length
Diameter
Wingspan
Weight
Warhead Weight
Propulsion
Maximum Speed
Maximum effective range	5200 meters
altitude, (m)	10-3500
Guidance mode	passive IR homing
emplace/displace time	13 sec
Single-shot hit probability

---

http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/missile/row/sa-18.htm

[Apollo]

I think it has a 2-kilo warhead and a range of 3-5 miles.

[demlosers]

[gwmoore]

OK, here is the FAS website about the SA-18. It does seem to be lacking in hard information, but anyhow, here is the site

FAS SA-18 info

Keep the Faith for Freedom

Greg

[tomahawk]

Looks dangerous.

Whoever is supplying this sh*t to Saddam needs to be punished hard.

[ahadams2]

http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/missile/row/sa-18.htm

SA-18 GROUSE
Igla 9K38
SA-N-10 GROUSE
Igla-M
The SA-18 GROUSE (Igla 9K38) is an improved variant in the the SA-7 & SA-14 series of manportable SAMs. As with the earlier SA-14, the SA-18 uses of a similar thermal battery/gas bottle, and the SA-18 has the same 2 kilogram high-explosive warhead fitted with a contact and grazing fuse. But the missile of entirely new design with substantially improved range and speed,. The new seeker and aerodynamic improvements extend its effective range, and its higher speed enables it to be used against faster targets. The SA-18 has a maximum range of 5200 meters and a maximum altitude of 3500 meters. The 9M39 missile SA-18 employs an IR guidance system using proportional convergence logic. The new seeker offers better protection against electro-optical jammers; the probability of kill against an unprotected fighter is estimated at 30-48%, and the use of IRCM jammers only degrades this to 24-30%.
The Igla-M [SA-N-10 ] is the naval version of the SA-18.

[my comment: translation in real terms: slant range of 5 klicks, maximum alt. of 3.5 klicks... the idea is to force attack aircraft to stay higher in order to achieve less accuracy... ]

[demlosers]

Russia most likely.

[randita]

It was reported on PBS and MSNBC that the Iraqis may be out of AA shells because they haven't shot any in the past few days. The fact that our C-130's and other slower aircraft haven't been used yet may be due to knowledge that Iraqis have these SA-18 SAMs.

[Antoninus]

So much for the Cold War being over. Pooty-Poot's a pile of dog pooty-poot as far as I'm concerned.

[expatpat]

3. Why haven't they used them?

[PLMerite]

We'll have to find out if can distinguish a MOAB from a frontal aspect engagement...

[Prince Charles]

Isn't this what the AQ ragheads used to try to shoot down the El Al jet in Africa last year?

[IncPen]

"What in the SAM hill's goin' on over there?"

[Rocky]

Pooty-Poot

Are you talking about RasPutin?