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2K11M1 Krug-M1 Surface-to-Air Missile System
Development History
The 2K11 Krug (NATO designation: SA-4 Ganef) was developed by the Soviet Union during the Cold War to provide a mobile, medium- to high-altitude air defense system for front-line army units. Work on the system began in the late 1950s with the objective of creating a mobile solution capable of engaging high-speed, high-altitude threats beyond the reach of conventional anti-aircraft artillery. The design bureau responsible, known for advanced missile development, initiated a concept that would integrate a ramjet-powered missile with robust tracking and fire control technology, making the Krug one of the first Soviet systems with monopulse radar tracking.
Initial development yielded the first version, designated Krug-A (2K11A), which entered service in the late 1960s. Although innovative for its time, the early configuration had a minimum engagement altitude that limited its effectiveness against low-flying threats. To address these limitations, a series of improvements were introduced, resulting in the Krug-M (2K11M) and later the significantly refined Krug-M1 (2K11M1).
The final M1 version incorporated upgraded radar systems and refined electronics that extended target detection and tracking capabilities, and dramatically lowered the minimum intercept altitude from several kilometers to a few hundred meters. Missile upgrades increased reliability and effectiveness against maneuvering targets. By the mid-1970s, the 2K11M1 had become the standard variant and remained in frontline use within the Soviet and Warsaw Pact armies for decades.
Operational Role and Combat History
Spoiler
The Krug was designed to serve as a core element of medium-range air defense for Soviet army formations, protecting armored and mechanized units from high-speed aircraft and, to some extent, ballistic missile threats. It typically operated at the division or army level, filling the gap between shorter-range systems like the Kub (SA-6) and longer-range strategic systems such as the S-200.
A standard Krug regiment or brigade was organized into multiple battalions, each subdivided into firing batteries. Each battery had a single tracking radar for every three launch vehicles, allowing for flexible deployment along the advancing front line. Mobility was a critical requirement: the entire system, including radars and launchers, was tracked and armored, enabling it to keep pace with maneuver forces and reposition quickly. The Krug’s doctrinal employment emphasized layered defense, early detection, and rapid reaction. The system could transition from travel to combat readiness in approximately five minutes, which significantly enhanced survivability against enemy suppression and electronic warfare. Its advanced radar modes and the option for optical tracking were intended to counter Western tactics such as electronic jamming and anti-radiation missile attacks.
Despite its advanced design and decades of active service, the Krug system had a relatively uneventful combat record. It did not participate in major Arab-Israeli conflicts, where other Soviet SAMs were more commonly deployed. A limited presence was reported in the early stages of the Soviet-Afghan War to fight against potential western reconnaissance aircraft, but the system was quickly withdrawn. Afghanistan’s rugged topography created severe line-of-sight obstructions for the radar systems, dramatically reducing detection and engagement ranges. The high mountain ridges and deep valleys were ill-suited for the Krug’s long-range radars, which perform best in open or gently rolling terrain.
Following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, several successor states retained their Krug systems. Armenia reportedly purchased 27 fire units and 349 missiles, some of which are apparently in service to this day. However, there are no verified accounts of the Krug system being launched in actual combat during the Karabakh conflict; it is likely that these units primarily served as deterrents or as decoy assets to complicate enemy planning and targeting. Turkmenistan is the only other nation still operating Krug systems. Following the collapse, other nations continued to employ them primarily for training purposes i.e target practice. The Russians even developed a specialized practice missile 9M316M Virazh, from decommissioned units, for potential export. Eventually, these countries phased out the Krug as more modern air defense systems were introduced.
The image above depicts a Krug surface-to-air missile site located in Turkmenistan.
System Components
1. Search Radar
Spoiler
Each Krug battalion employed a long-range target acquisition radar, commonly known in NATO parlance as the 1S12 “P-40 Long Track”. This system provided the battalion with wide-area surveillance, detecting incoming aircraft at significant distances and relaying target data to the fire control units. Mounted on a modified AT-T heavy tracked vehicle, the radar offered good cross-country mobility and was capable of tracking multiple targets at high altitudes and long ranges, ensuring early warning and efficient cueing for the engagement radars.
- Maximum detection range: approximately 150–175 kilometers for high-altitude, large radar cross-section targets under optimal conditions.
- Maximum detection altitude: up to 30–32 kilometers (roughly 100,000 feet), sufficient to detect high-flying reconnaissance aircraft or strategic bombers.
- Minimum detection altitude: typically about 100 meters above ground level; however, practical performance near the radar horizon may vary with terrain and clutter.
This radar operated in the UHF band and was capable of providing three-dimensional target data (range, azimuth, and approximate elevation), which was sufficient for cueing the engagement radar.
2. Tracking and Guidance Radar
Spoiler
The battery’s primary engagement radar, known by NATO as the 1S32 “Pat Hand”, served as the fire control center for missile guidance. This radar employed H-band continuous-wave (CW) technology for precise tracking, improving accuracy and resistance to jamming compared to earlier Soviet radars. It was mounted on an armored GM-123/GM-124 tracked chassis similar to the launcher vehicles, providing the same degree of tactical mobility. The Pat Hand could lock onto targets handed over by the search radar and manage missile guidance throughout the intercept, using radio command signals.
To maintain effectiveness in contested electronic environments, the Pat Hand radar featured various electronic counter-countermeasures, including an optical sight that enabled manual target tracking when radar use was undesirable or impossible due to jamming. Additional operating modes allowed the radar to intermittently emit or operate passively, reducing its vulnerability to anti-radiation weapons.
- Maximum target acquisition range: approximately 110 to 120 kilometers for large, high-altitude targets under good conditions. Initial detection typically starts beyond 100 km, with firm tracking established by about 80–90 km.
- Maximum engagement altitude: supports missile guidance to targets up to 25–27 kilometers in altitude, consistent with the missile’s performance envelope.
- Minimum engagement altitude: with the improved M1 configuration, the radar and guidance system can support engagements down to around 150–250 meters above ground level, a major improvement over the original system.
3. Launch Vehicle
Spoiler
The Krug’s missiles were carried and fired from the 2P24 self-propelled launch vehicle. This heavy tracked transporter-erector-launcher carried two large missiles side by side on a rotating mount. Before firing, the missiles would be raised to the correct launch angle and released in sequence or salvo. The launch vehicle was armored and equipped with NBC protection to operate alongside front-line armored formations. Reloading was performed using a dedicated 2T6 transporter-loader truck (based on a 6×6 Ural-375D), which carried spare missiles and used a crane to position them onto the launcher rails. Crews could reload a launcher in about ten to fifteen minutes under field conditions.
The missile itself, designated 3M8 and its later versions, used a combination of solid rocket boosters and a liquid-fueled ramjet sustainer engine. This hybrid propulsion allowed the missile to achieve high speeds and maintain maneuverability throughout its flight, making it capable of engaging fast, high-altitude targets at ranges up to approximately fifty kilometers and altitudes exceeding twenty kilometers in the system’s final version. Guidance was provided entirely by ground radar command signals; the missile lacked an onboard seeker and instead relied on continuous updates from the fire control radar until proximity fuses triggered detonation near the target.
2K11M1 Krug-M1 — System Specifications
Spoiler
Type:
Medium- to high-altitude, mobile surface-to-air missile system
Origin:
Soviet Union
Entered Service (Modernized Version):
Approximately 1974 (M1 upgrade)
Engagement Capabilities
Effective engagement range:
7–9 km (minimum) up to 50–55 km (maximum) against aerial targets, depending on target altitude and radar horizon
Effective engagement altitude:
Approx. 150–250 meters (minimum) to 24,000–27,000 meters (maximum)
Maximum target speed:
Up to ~800 m/s (about Mach 2.8–3.0)
Reaction time:
Approximately 5 minutes from traveling to combat-ready state
Missiles
Designation:
3M8 series (includes 3M8, 3M8M1, 3M8M2)
Length:
Approximately 8.8 meters
Diameter:
Approximately 0.86 meters (body)
Launch weight:
About 2,450 kilograms per missile
Propulsion:
Four solid-fuel boosters for initial acceleration; liquid-fueled ramjet sustainer for high-speed cruise
Guidance:
Command guidance via 1S32 “Pat Hand” radar, radio command link, no onboard seeker
Warhead:
High-explosive fragmentation, approx. 135–150 kg; equipped with proximity and contact fuzes
Warhead effect:
Lethal radius sufficient to destroy or severely damage large aircraft
Key Radar Components
Search Radar (P-40 “Long Track” / 1S12):
- Frequency: UHF band
- Maximum detection range: ~175 km for large targets
- Maximum detection altitude: ~30–32 km
- Minimum detection altitude: ~100 meters (practical detection depends on clutter and horizon)
- 3D capability: Provides azimuth, range, and approximate elevation
Tracking/Guidance Radar (1S32 “Pat Hand”):
- Frequency: H-band
- Target acquisition range: ~110–120 km, with reliable tracking at 80–90 km
- Capable of guiding up to 2 missiles per target simultaneously
- Monopulse tracking for high accuracy
- Equipped with optical sight for manual backup tracking
- Features multiple emission modes (continuous, intermittent, and passive prediction)
Launcher Vehicle (2P24 TEL)
Chassis:
Tracked, armored GM-123 platform
Missile load:
2 ready-to-launch missiles per TEL
Traverse:
360 degrees
Elevation:
Approx. 0–70 degrees
Reload time:
Approx. 10–15 minutes with support vehicle (2T6 transporter-loader)
Mobility:
- Road speed: ~35–40 km/h
- Range: ~300–400 km on road
- Fully amphibious: No (but highly mobile cross-country)
Protection:
Armored hull, NBC-protected, night-vision capable
Deployment Structure (typical battery)
- 1 P-40 “Long Track” radar vehicle (for target acquisition)
- 1 1S32 “Pat Hand” radar vehicle (tracking and fire control)
- 3 2P24 launch vehicles (each with 2 missiles)
- 1 or more transporter-loader trucks (2T6) for missile resupply
Other System Features
- Fully mobile and designed for armored maneuver warfare
- Can relocate and redeploy in minutes to avoid enemy SEAD attacks
- Utilizes electronic counter-countermeasures and passive optical backup tracking
- Crew cabins are sealed for NBC protection and harsh weather operations
Crew
2P24 Launch Vehicle (TEL)
Crew: Typically 3 to 4 personnel per launcher
- Driver–mechanic: responsible for vehicle mobility and basic maintenance.
- Commander: supervises the crew and coordinates firing sequence with the fire control radar.
- Loader/operator: manages pre-launch preparation, safety checks, and post-launch reload operations.
- In some cases, a fourth crew member may be assigned for additional maintenance or radio operations, especially in training or extended deployments.
1S32 “Pat Hand” Tracking and Guidance Radar
Crew: Usually 4 to 5 operators per radar vehicle
- Radar commander: oversees target acquisition, engagement authorization, and coordination with the battery commander.
- Tracking operator: handles radar lock-on, target tracking, and fine control of the monopulse system.
- Missile guidance operator: manages missile control signals during flight.
- Power systems/technician: maintains radar power supply and troubleshooting.
- An additional crew member may assist with the optical sight or act as a radio communications operator.
1S12 “Long Track” Search Radar (P-40)
Crew: Typically 4 to 6 operators
- Radar commander: overall control and coordination.
- Antenna operator: controls antenna rotation and elevation mechanisms.
- Console operator(s): manage target detection, identification, and hand-off to fire control.
- Power/technician: monitors generators and onboard power systems.
- Larger crew counts include radio operators or maintenance personnel for prolonged missions.
Schematics and Tables
Conclusion
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The modernized 2K11M1 Krug represented a significant advancement in Soviet mobile air defense, integrating long-range surveillance, precise monopulse tracking, and high-speed ramjet missiles on fully armored tracked platforms. It filled a vital role in protecting maneuvering army formations against high-altitude and fast-moving aerial threats, with improved capabilities to engage targets at lower altitudes compared to its predecessors. Although it saw little direct combat use, its robust and innovative design embodied the Soviet emphasis on mobility, survivability, and layered air defense. Its technical concepts and operational lessons significantly influenced the development of subsequent Soviet and Russian surface-to-air missile systems.
The image above depicts a Krug missile launcher in Karabakh.
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