SPG-9
The SPG-9 Kopye ("Spear") is a Soviet-developed, tripod-mounted, man-portable 73-millimeter recoilless gun designed for anti-tank and light anti-fortification roles.[1][2] Introduced into service with the Soviet Army in 1962 as a successor to the heavier B-10 recoilless rifle, it features a smoothbore barrel that launches fin-stabilized, rocket-assisted projectiles, including high-explosive anti-tank (HEAT) rounds with armor penetration capabilities of 300 to 400 millimeters of rolled homogeneous armor equivalent.[1][3] Effective direct-fire range reaches up to 800 meters, with indirect fire possible beyond 1,300 meters using high-explosive fragmentation rounds for personnel and soft targets.[4][5] Weighing approximately 47.5 kilograms without ammunition or optical sights, the system emphasizes mobility for infantry, airborne, and special forces units, allowing disassembly for transport by a small crew.[1][5] Its design incorporates a pistol-grip firing mechanism and optional PG-7 or PG-9 series sights for targeting, with backblast countermeasures via a venturi nozzle to mitigate operator hazard.[6] The SPG-9 has seen extensive proliferation through exports, licensed production in countries including Bulgaria, Iran, Romania, and Sudan, and capture by non-state actors, contributing to its continued use in conflicts across Eastern Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia into the 2020s.[4] Variants such as the SPG-9M and SPG-9DN incorporate improved sights and fire-control systems for enhanced accuracy against modern threats.[1]Development
Origins and design requirements
The SPG-9, designated "Kopye" (Spear), originated from Soviet efforts in the late 1950s to modernize infantry anti-tank capabilities amid escalating Cold War armored threats. The existing B-10 82 mm recoilless rifle, a World War II-era design, proved inadequate against post-war tank armor due to limited projectile velocity and penetration, prompting requirements for a successor with improved range, accuracy, and lethality while maintaining man-portability for motorized or airborne units.[3][7] Development commenced around 1959 under GSKB-47 (now part of NPO Basalt), focusing on a 73 mm smoothbore recoilless gun system that incorporated rocket-assisted, fin-stabilized projectiles to achieve muzzle velocities exceeding 300 m/s and effective ranges up to 1,300 meters for anti-tank engagements.[7] Key design mandates included a tripod-mounted configuration for stability during firing, a crew-served operation by 2–4 personnel, and total system weight under 50 kg for disassembly and transport by two soldiers, ensuring compatibility with Soviet doctrinal emphasis on mobile, unguided direct-fire weapons as a cost-effective alternative to emerging ATGMs.[1] These requirements prioritized high-explosive anti-tank (HEAT) rounds capable of penetrating 300 mm of rolled homogeneous armor at typical combat ranges, alongside versatility for high-explosive fragmentation munitions against soft targets, reflecting the need for a versatile battalion-level asset rather than specialized heavy artillery. The system entered Soviet service in 1962 after trials validated its recoil management via a venturi nozzle and backblast countermeasures, marking a shift toward hybrid recoilless-rocket propulsion in Soviet anti-armor design.[7][6]Production history and variants
The SPG-9 recoilless gun was developed in the Soviet Union during the late 1950s as a successor to the B-10 recoilless rifle, with initial production commencing shortly thereafter. It entered service with Soviet forces in 1962, featuring a smoothbore barrel and rocket-assisted projectiles for enhanced range and penetration over its predecessor. Primary manufacturing occurred in Soviet state factories, with output focused on equipping motorized rifle units and airborne troops; exact production figures remain classified, though the design's simplicity facilitated widespread adoption across Warsaw Pact nations. Licensed production expanded to allied countries, including Bulgaria by Arsenal JSCo (as the ATGL series), Romania by RomArm (as the AG-9), and Iran by the Amir al-Momenin Military Industries Group (AMiG SPG-9), enabling local sustainment and modifications amid Cold War export controls.[3][2][4] Key variants include the base SPG-9, optimized for tripod-mounted infantry use with a wheeled carriage for towing. The SPG-9D, introduced for airborne operations, incorporates detachable wheels and lighter components for parachute deployment and rapid assembly, reducing transport weight while maintaining core ballistics. The SPG-9M modernization, fielded from the 1980s onward, integrates advanced optics such as the 2Ts35 laser rangefinder and ballistic computer, extending effective anti-tank engagement to 1,300 meters with improved high-explosive anti-tank (HEAT) rounds; this upgrade addressed limitations in night and low-visibility targeting exposed during Afghan operations. Regional adaptations feature minor divergences, such as the Hungarian SZPG-9 with localized ergonomics and the Bulgarian SPG-9DNM emphasizing corrosion-resistant finishes for export markets. No major caliber or propulsion overhauls occurred, preserving interoperability with standard 73mm ammunition across producers.[8][1][4]| Variant | Key Features | Primary Producer |
|---|---|---|
| SPG-9 | Standard tripod-mounted model with wheeled carriage | Soviet Union/Russia |
| SPG-9D | Detachable wheels for airborne portability | Soviet Union/Russia |
| SPG-9M | Upgraded sights (e.g., 2Ts35 LRF) for extended range | Russia |
| ATGL | Licensed copy with potential ergonomic tweaks | Bulgaria |
| AG-9 | Local production variant | Romania |
| AMiG SPG-9 | Indigenous manufacturing for regional use | Iran |
Technical design
Weapon mechanics and operation
The SPG-9 is a 73 mm smoothbore recoilless gun designed for anti-tank and fire support roles, employing a rear-venting system to counteract recoil forces generated by the propellant charge.[5][4] The barrel, measuring 2,110 mm in length, features a bulbous breech and a conical venturi at the rear, encased in bakelite heat shielding to protect the operator from hot gases.[4] Propellant gases are expelled rearward through this vent at high velocity, balancing the forward momentum of the projectile and minimizing felt recoil on the mount.[6][5] Operation typically involves a crew of two—a gunner and a loader—with the weapon mounted on a tripod for stability, though it weighs 50 kg without the mount and requires setup in a clear backblast area to avoid hazards from expelled gases.[4][6] Loading is manual and breech-based: the interrupted screw breech mechanism is unlocked and swung open, allowing insertion of a fin-stabilized round from the rear; the round consists of a warhead paired with a tubular rocket motor, plus a PG-9P propellant charge wrapped around an extensible boom that fits behind the fins and ends in a perforated disc.[6][5] Once loaded, the breech is closed, and the gunner aims using the PGO-9 optical sight (4× magnification) or open sights, with the tripod permitting elevation from -3° to +20° and limited traverse.[6] Firing commences via a trigger mechanism that ignites the propellant charge, ejecting the round from the muzzle at an initial velocity of 250–435 m/s; a delay element then activates the rocket motor post-ejection, boosting velocity to approximately 700 m/s for extended range.[5][4] Trained crews achieve a rate of fire of 5–6 rounds per minute, limited by the manual reloading process, with each shot producing significant backblast that necessitates a safe zone of at least 25 meters behind the weapon.[6] The system supports optional infrared night sights like the PGN-9 for low-visibility operations.[6] While primarily tripod-fired, emergency shoulder-firing is possible but discouraged due to the weapon's mass and backblast risks.[6]Specifications and mounting options
The SPG-9 is a 73 mm smoothbore recoilless gun with an overall length of 2.11 meters and a barrel length of approximately 0.99 meters.[1][7] The weapon weighs about 47.5 to 50 kg without its tripod and 59 to 62 kg when including the standard tripod mount.[3][9] It achieves a muzzle velocity of around 436 m/s and supports a rate of fire up to 4 to 6 rounds per minute depending on crew proficiency.[1][9] Effective direct fire range stands at 800 meters, with maximum ranges extending to 1,200–1,300 meters for direct fire and up to 4,500 meters for indirect fire using fragmentation rounds.[1][3]| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Caliber | 73 mm |
| Length | 2.11 m |
| Weight (gun only) | 47.5–50 kg |
| Weight (with tripod) | 59–62 kg |
| Muzzle velocity | 436 m/s |
| Rate of fire | 4–6 rounds/min |
| Effective range (direct) | 800 m |
| Maximum range (indirect) | 4,500 m |
Ammunition and projectiles
Primary round types
The SPG-9 recoilless gun primarily employs fin-stabilized, rocket-assisted 73 mm projectiles designed for anti-tank and anti-personnel roles, with the core types being high-explosive anti-tank (HEAT) rounds for penetrating armored vehicles and high-explosive fragmentation (HE-FRAG) rounds for infantry suppression.[1][7] These rounds feature a propellant charge wrapped around an extending boom that deploys behind folded stabilizing fins post-launch, enabling effective direct-fire ranges up to 800 meters for both types.[10] The PG-9V HEAT round, introduced as the standard anti-armor projectile, utilizes a shaped-charge warhead capable of penetrating approximately 300 mm of rolled homogeneous armor (RHA) at 0° obliquity, making it suitable against light and medium armored targets like infantry fighting vehicles or early main battle tanks.[7][1] An improved variant, the PG-9VL, incorporates a more efficient tandem warhead to defeat reactive armor, achieving up to 400 mm penetration against conventional armor while maintaining similar ballistics.[3] For non-armor targets, the OG-9V HE-FRAG round delivers blast and fragmentation effects optimized for area suppression, with a maximum indirect-fire range extending to 4.5 km when using adjusted elevation, though direct fire is limited to 800 meters.[1][3] These munitions share compatibility with the 73 mm 2A28 "Grom" gun on BMP-1 vehicles, reflecting shared Soviet design lineage for logistical simplicity.[8]Performance characteristics
The SPG-9 recoilless gun delivers muzzle velocities of 435 m/s for standard high-explosive anti-tank fin-stabilized (HEAT-FS) projectiles and 316 m/s for high-explosive fragmentation (HE-Frag) rounds, with rocket-assisted variants like the PG-9 series boosting terminal velocity to approximately 700 m/s after sustainer motor ignition.[11][4] These velocities support direct-fire anti-armor engagements at effective ranges of 800 meters for unboosted HEAT-FS ammunition, extending to over 1,300 meters for rocket-assisted PG-9 projectiles, beyond which penetration degrades due to velocity loss and dispersion.[11][4] Indirect fire with HE-Frag rounds reaches maximum ranges approaching 4,500 meters.[11] Armor penetration for standard PG-9 HEAT rounds measures 300 mm of rolled homogeneous armor (RHA) at close range, with improved tandem-warhead variants achieving up to 400 mm RHA to counter reactive armor.[11][1] The PGO-9x optical sight, standard on the system, provides 4x magnification for point targets up to 800–1,300 meters depending on ammunition, though practical accuracy diminishes beyond 800 meters against moving vehicles due to the weapon's open-bolt firing mechanism and environmental factors like wind affecting the fin-stabilized projectiles.[11] A trained crew sustains a rate of fire of 5–6 rounds per minute, limited by manual breech-loading and the need to clear spent casings and propellant bags from the venturi.[11][1] The recoilless design vents propellant gases rearward, creating a hazardous backblast zone extending 20–30 meters, which restricts firing from enclosed positions and requires clear rearward space for safe operation.[4]| Projectile Type | Muzzle Velocity | Effective Anti-Armor Range | Penetration (RHA at 0 m) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard HEAT-FS (e.g., PG-9) | 435 m/s | 800 m | 300 mm |
| Improved HEAT-FS | Varies (rocket-assisted) | 800–1,300 m | 400 mm |
| HE-Frag (e.g., OG-9) | 316 m/s | N/A (indirect up to 4,500 m) | N/A |