The Russian Khrizantema-S is a self-propelled anti-tank launcher unit especially designed to destroy current and future generations of main battle tanks and can also be used to engage slow and low flying aerial targets like helicopters. The missile system is mounted on the BMP-3 IFV (Infantry Fighting Vehicle) without the standard turret.
BMP-3 Khrizantema-S mobile launcher unit fires its anti-tank missile (Picture source Internet Internet)
The Khrizantema anti-tank missile was unveiled in July 1996 by the Russian Company Konstruktorskoye Byuro Mashynostroyenia (KBM) Engineering Design Bureau. The missile had started development in the 1980s and was designed as an all weather, multi-purpose missile system that could defeat current and future armoured units equipped with advanced armour protection like explosive reactive armour (ERA). The antitank missile system Khrizantema-S was designed and manufactured by the Kolomna Instrument Manufacturing Design Bureau, which is part of the holding company High Precision Systems. The missile has a range from 400 to 6,000 m.
The use of the BMP-3 IFV chassis has improved improve the maneuverability and mobility of the Khrizantema-S, and it also has give the ability to cross water obstacles.
The missile system can run at a speed of 45 km/h over rough terrain. On road, it can reach a maximum speed of 70 km/h. It has a maximum cruising range of 600 kilometers without refueling. The Khrizantema-S has the capacity to launch missile from road to combat position in less than a few seconds thanks to the launcher missile system which can be erected from inside of the hull. A Russian soldiers joke, the Khrizantema can “bloom” in twenty seconds.
Today, Khrizantema-S is one of best worldwide anti-tank missile system able to detect and destroy targets without optical visibility in smoke, fog, and snow, as well as at any time of the day, thanks to radar and optical laser channels. The simultaneous operation of two channels allows soldiers o track two targets and launch missile automatically.
9P157-4 battery commander's vehicle of Khrizantema-S anti-tank missile launcher vehicle (Picture Source Konstruktorskoye Byuro Mashynostroyenia)
The Khrizantema-S system is equipped with a unique radar system. The locator creates an invisible radio beam, acting in the millimeter range. When the beam finds its target and the rocket launches, the strike is inevitable. Guidance of the radio beam is carried out without operator intervention.
KRET enterprises participated in the effort to upgrade the 1L32 anti-tank radar system for the Khrizantema-S system. The IM-16-5 multifunction display created at the Ulyanovsk Instrument Manufacturing Design Bureau replaced its 11 blocks with a total mass of more than 90 kg, making it one of the main parts of the radar station’s guidance system.
The BMP-3 Khrizantema-S can carried a total 15 missiles and two types of missile can be fired, an antitank missile with shaped-charge warhead or high-explosive antitank missile.
According to the Russian manufacturer, a battery of three Khrizantema-S military vehicles could replace a tank company of 14 main battle tanks.
The 9P157-4 battery commander's vehicles is also based on a BMP-3 IFV chassis and is used to command a battery of 9P157-2 and 9P157-3 CVs. The 9P157-4 crew includes 4 persons. The 9P157-4 CV is intended for terrain reconnaissance, designates targets for CVs, provides target assignment among platoons and individual CVs, kills enemy soldiers infiltrated into the battery's location.
