Belarus receives first batch of Russian Ataka antitank guided missiles


The Belarussian armed forces have received the first batch of 9M120 Ataka antitank guided missiles, the Belarussian Defense Ministry said : “The first batch of Ataka missiles was delivered in the framework of military-technical cooperation with the Russian Federation”. It was earlier reported that Belarus planned to procure antitank Ataka missiles in 2020-2021.
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In the background (behind the Igla-S): 9М120-1 Ataka antitank missile (Picture source: Vitaly Kuzmin)


Rosoboronexport CEO Alexander Mikheev said in May 2019 that the arms trade with Belarus was successfully developing and has exceeded one billion dollars since 2001.

The 9M120 Ataka (Attack) originates from the Soviet era. The NATO reporting name of the 9M120 missile is AT-9 Spiral-2. It is the next major generation in the 9K114 Shturm (AT-6 Spiral) family. The missile has radio command guidance and is also a Beam riding SACLOS. This missile's primary variant was designed to defeat tanks with composite armor and explosive reactive armor. The 9M120 Ataka system is often confused with the 9K121 Vikhr system, despite being different weapons systems developed by different companies. The former was designed by the KBM machine-building design bureau and manufactured by the Degtyarev plant. According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, Russia exported the Ataka ATGM to Iran, Kazakhstan, and Slovenia, and now Belarus.


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Close view of Ataka anti-tank guided missile launcher station mounted on BMP-3M. (Picture source: Army Recognition)