Profile
- Type
- Tracked short-range surface-to-air missile system
- Origin
- Soviet Union
- Service note
- Entered service in 1976; still fielded in the Russia-Ukraine War
Air Defense
9K35 Strela-10
The 9K35 Strela-10, NATO reporting name SA-13 Gopher, is a Soviet tracked short-range air defense system mounted on an MT-LB chassis. Built to protect maneuver forces from low-flying aircraft, helicopters, cruise missiles, and UAVs, it remains relevant in Ukraine because both sides use mobile air-defense vehicles against the dense reconnaissance-drone threat.
- Built in
- Soviet UnionRussia
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Service History
- In service
- 1976-present
- Used by
- Ukrainian Armed Forces, Russian Armed Forces
- Wars
- Russia-Ukraine War
Production History
- Designer
- OKB-16 / KB Tochmash
- Designed
- 1969-1976
- Built in
- Soviet UnionRussia
- Unit cost
- Not publicly available
- Produced
- 1976-present
- Number built
- Not publicly available
- Variants
- 9K35 Strela-10SV, Strela-10M, Strela-10M2, Strela-10M3, Strela-10M4
Specifications
- Crew
- 3
- Armament
- Four ready-to-fire missiles on the launcher with additional reloads carried in the vehicle; 7.62 mm machine gun for self-defense
- Missiles
- 9M37-series and 9M333 surface-to-air missiles, depending on variant and stock
- Engagement range
- About 0.8-5 km
- Engagement altitude
- About 25 m to 3.5 km for 9M37-series missiles; later 9M333 sources list down to about 10 m
- Chassis
- Modified MT-LB tracked amphibious vehicle
- Mobility
- Up to about 60 km/h on road, about 5-6 km/h afloat, and roughly 450-500 km road range
- Weight
- About 12.3 t
Conflict Usage
- Russia-Ukraine War
- Side: UkraineRussia
Both Russian and Ukrainian forces have operated Strela-10 systems during the Russia-Ukraine War; Ukrainian inventories were also reinforced by documented deliveries of 9K35 Strela-10M systems in 2022.
9K35 Strela-10 Images
Related Weapon Systems
2K22 TunguskaTracked self-propelled gun-missile air defense systemThe 2K22 Tunguska is a Soviet-designed tracked short-range air defense system that combines twin 30 mm autocannons, 9M311-family surface-to-air missiles, search and tracking radars, and a protected self-propelled chassis. Built to cover maneuver formations against low-flying aircraft, helicopters, cruise missiles, and later unmanned threats, it appears in the Russia-Ukraine War mainly as a Russian front-line air-defense asset with visually documented combat losses.
Buk-M2Tracked medium-range surface-to-air missile systemThe Buk-M2 is a Russian tracked medium-range surface-to-air missile system in the Buk family, using the 9M317 missile and networked radars to defend maneuver forces and key areas against aircraft, helicopters, cruise missiles, precision weapons, and some ballistic targets. In the Russia-Ukraine War it appears on the Russian side as part of layered battlefield air defense, where Ukrainian forces have targeted its launchers and associated radar vehicles.
SkynexNetworked short-range air defense systemSkynex is Rheinmetall Air Defence's modular short-range air defense architecture built around the Oerlikon Skymaster battle management system, networked sensors such as X-TAR3D, and autonomous effectors including 35 mm Revolver Gun Mk3 fire units with AHEAD air-burst ammunition. In Ukrainian service during the Russia-Ukraine War, the system fills a point-defense role against drones, cruise missiles, and other low-altitude threats around critical infrastructure.
Tor-M2Short-range surface-to-air missile systemThe Tor-M2 is a Russian short-range, self-propelled surface-to-air missile system built to protect maneuver forces and fixed sites from aircraft, helicopters, drones, guided missiles, and other precision weapons. In the Russia-Ukraine War it appears in Russian service as a tracked tactical air-defense vehicle, with visually documented battlefield losses showing its use close enough to the front to be targeted by Ukrainian forces.
9K33 OsaShort-range self-propelled surface-to-air missile systemThe 9K33 Osa, NATO reporting name SA-8 Gecko, is a Soviet short-range self-propelled surface-to-air missile system that combines search radar, tracking radar, command guidance, and ready-to-fire missiles on a single amphibious 6x6 TELAR. In the Russia-Ukraine War it appears on both sides of the air-defense fight, including Ukrainian systems reinforced by Polish-supplied Osa vehicles and visually documented Russian losses.
9K333 VerbaMan-portable air-defense system (MANPADS)The 9K333 Verba is a Russian shoulder-fired short-range surface-to-air missile system built around the 9M336 missile and a passive three-spectral thermal seeker. It is intended to engage low-flying aircraft, helicopters, unmanned aircraft, and cruise missiles, giving Russian small units a portable air-defense option in the Russia-Ukraine War.Sources
Strela-10Publisher: National Defence University of Ukraine | Note: Supports service-entry, manufacturer, chassis, crew, mobility, range, altitude, and general background claims. | Accessed: 2026-06-20SA-13 Gopher 9K35 Strela-10 SAMPublisher: Army Recognition | Note: Supports system role, combat vehicle composition, missile armament, MT-LB chassis, and technical specifications. | Accessed: 2026-06-20Answering The Call: Heavy Weaponry Supplied To UkrainePublisher: Oryx | Note: Documents delivered 9K35 Strela-10M systems among surface-to-air missile systems supplied to Ukraine during the 2022 invasion. | Accessed: 2026-06-20How reconnaissance drones turned the outdated Strela-10 air defense system into a key asset in UkrainePublisher: Army Recognition | Note: Supports direct Russia-Ukraine War use by both Russian and Ukrainian forces, including counter-UAV employment and survivability adaptations. | Accessed: 2026-06-20File:Strela 10 (modified).jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Image source page identifies the Strela-10 image and lists Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 licensing. | Accessed: 2026-06-20File:9M37 surface-to-air missile of Strela-10 system.jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Gallery image source page for a 9M37 missile associated with the Strela-10 system and its reuse licensing context. | Accessed: 2026-06-20