Portable anti-aircraft missile system Grom ("Thunder")

Portable anti-aircraft missile system Grom ("Thunder") is designed to combat low-flying visually observable air targets of different types (including aircraft, helicopters, cruise missiles), flying at speeds up to 400m / s on the counter and at speeds up to 360m / s - in the catch-up courses in natural (background) and artificial thermal interference.

The Grom complex was developed by Polish MIC enterprises on the basis of Russian man-portable air defence systems "Igla-1" and "Igla". The implementation of the project started at the end of 1992 when the Grom complex was designed by the Polish military-industrial complex enterprises on the basis of Russian man-portable air defence systems "Igla-1" and "Igla". The first samples of the complex, which received the designation Grom-1, went into service of the Polish Army in 1995. The improvement of the complex was continued within the Grom-2 project. In the period from 1995 to 2004, the Russian side provided technical assistance in developing and mastering the production of individual components of the Grom-2 man-portable air defence systems. Russian components (including homing heads 9E410, 1G-03 developed by LOMO) and materials were supplied. Series production of the Grom-2 man-portable air defence systems started in 2000, however, full localization of production at the Polish enterprises could be ensured only after 2004. In accordance with the terms of the contract, the Polish side undertook to use Russian products only for the needs of the Polish Ministry of Defence, not to re-export the complexes, as well as not to transfer them to a third party without the consent of the Russian Federation. However, later these agreements were not observed: in 2007 Poland sold about 30 Grom man-portable air defence systems and 100 missiles to Georgia. These systems were used during the Georgian-South Ossetian conflict in 2008.

The complex is produced by the production enterprise MESKO S.A. (Skarzisko-Kamen). At present Grom is offered in a portable version and is used as a part of short-range anti-aircraft systems (ZUR-23-2KG Jodek-G, ZSU-23-4MP Biala, Poprad), placed on various carriers. These systems are actively offered for export.

In the summer of 2005. Poland signed a $35mn contract to supply Kobra air defense systems to Indonesia, which include the MMSR mobile radar, WD-95 combat vehicles, Poprad mobile missile launchers with Grom missiles and ZUR-23-2KG. The first battery of Kobra air defense system consisting of four Poprad combat vehicles, fourteen ZUR-23-2KG (including two training vehicles), two WD-95 control vehicles and an MMSR radar was purchased by Indonesia in 2007. In total, the Indonesian armed forces purchased 74 Grom missiles as well as a significant amount of 23 mm ammunition.

Composition:

The portable version of the Grom complex is almost exactly the same as the Russian complex "Needle" in terms of composition and design.

It consists of:

rockets;
launch tube;
launch mechanism with built-in radar requester and power supply unit.

The Grom rocket is made according to the aerodynamic scheme "duck", has aerodynamic rudders in the front part and four opening stabilizers in the rear. The homing head is two-channel, similar to 9E410. The photoreceiver of the main channel is made on the basis of the austenitic indium, and is cooled down to -196°C before starting. The photoreceiver of the auxiliary channel is an uncooled photoresistor on the basis of sulfur lead. The missile is operated in an airtight launch tube with sockets for connecting the launch mechanism and power supply unit. The reusable launch mechanism ensures automatic preparation of the rocket for launch, verification of its systems and firing. The power supply unit, designed to power the launch mechanism and the CNS cooling, consists of a cylinder with compressed nitrogen (35 MPa pressure) and a pyrotechnic battery.

Polish developers created a new contact fuse, modified the combat unit and the marching engine. As a result, the Grom complex was able to engage targets at altitudes of more than 3000m, the range of engagement increased to 5500m. The combat unit differs from the Russian prototype by a slightly higher weight and, according to the developers, is more effective. For the Grom complex there was also developed a new sensor of the IR3-02 state identification system.

Since 2006, the Military Technical Academy (Wojskowa Akademia Techniczna, Warsaw), together with BUMAR and ZM Mesko, has been developing an improved version of the Grom man-portable air defence system, designated Piorun ("Lightning"). The main goals of the program are to increase the missile speed, range and altitude of the target, to increase the interference immunity of the CNS, to provide the possibility of using the coplex against new classes of air targets, including unmanned aircraft. The combat unit is based on the new-generation high-energy explosive CL-20, is equipped with ready-made hit elements and a new non-contact fuse that can be programmed depending on the type of target. The weight of the combat unit has been increased by 10%. The Piorun man-portable air defence system will be able to engage targets flying at altitudes from 10m at speeds up to 400m/s. The probability of hitting a non-manoeuvring target is increased to 70%. The new man-portable air defense system is equipped with a night vision sight.

Man-portable air defense systems

The ZUR-23-2KG JODEK-G towed short-range anti-aircraft missile and artillery system (SAM) is used for air defense of military columns and stationary objects. The ZUR-23-2KG consists of two 23 mm 2A14 automatic guns, two GROM anti-aircraft missile launchers with a control panel (see photo), a cradle, upper carriage, a platform with chassis and electromechanical drives for azimuth and elevation angle. The unit is equipped with advanced CKE-2 sight, night vision device and laser rangefinder. The ZUR-23-2KG can destroy air targets moving at a speed of up to 300m/s at an altitude of up to 1500m and a range of up to 2500m, as well as engage manpower, light armoured vehicles and enemy fire points at a range of up to 2000m. The two-wheeled chassis with springs is mounted on support rollers. In combat position the wheels are raised and deflected to the side, and the unit is placed on the ground on three supporting plates (see photo 1, photo 2). Calculation of the complex - 4 people. The system is produced by the Polish company ZM Tarnow and has been in service since 2002.

Similar light ship turret ZU-23-2MP Wrobel-II ("Sparrow-II") is designed for organization of close air defense of ships of small displacement from the attacks of anti-ship missiles, aircraft and helicopters of the enemy. The upper part of the tower is made of transparent plastic, on which two containers with Grom missiles are placed (see photo). ZU-23-2MP complex is equipped with GP-02MR sight and can receive target designation from ship-based detection systems.

In September 2010 at the MSPO-2010 exhibition in Kielce was demonstrated a combat vehicle STAR 266M-OP Grom (Hibneryt-KG), designed by the 3rd district technical workshop (3 Okregowe Warsztaty Techniczne). The STAR 266M-OP Grom is a variant of placing the ZUR-23-2KG JODEK-G on the armored chassis of the STAR 266 off-road truck (see photo). The 6x6 vehicle is equipped with a diesel engine MAN D08824 LFG01 with an output of 114 kW. The driver and commander are located in the cab of the vehicle, and the other numbers of calculation (2 people) - in a special cabin, installed in the front of the body. The reservation provides protection against small arms fire, grenade fragments, mines and improvised explosive devices. The vehicle can transport up to 8 sets of Grom missiles. The new complex, which is positioned as multi-purpose, is intended for use by Polish armed forces during peacekeeping operations, including in Afghanistan.

ZM Tarnow has also developed a project to upgrade the Shilka anti-aircraft self-propelled unit. The upgraded ZM Tarnow (see photo) is equipped with a package of four containers of Grom anti-aircraft missiles, passive optoelectronic detection equipment with an automated target tracking system in day and night conditions, a digital ballistic computer, an advanced navigation system, improved communication and data transmission facilities, and a new electric generator. The complex, designated ZSU-23-4MP Biala, was adopted by the Polish Army in 2004. The ZSU-23-4MP is equipped with night vision systems for commander and driver, the crew reduced to three people.

On the basis of Grom anti-aircraft missiles CNPEP Radwar developed a mobile short-range anti-aircraft missile system Poprad. The Poprad complex is a self-contained PP-G platform (Platforma Przeciwlotnicza - Grom) with four launchers, optoelectronic detection system, laser rangefinder and IKZ-02 requestor of the Suprasl identification system of PIT-RADWAR company. The PP-G platform can be mounted on various media (see photo) and is equipped with a hydraulic lift, which, according to the developer, increases the efficiency of combat application and reduces the size of the combat vehicle in a camping position.

Tests of the Poprad complex started at the end of 2003 at the range of Dravsko Pomorsk, and the first launches in combat equipment were made in May 2004 at the range of Vitsko Morsk on the Baltic Sea coast. During the tests, the passive tracking system of the complex received target data provided by the mobile small-size three-dimensional MMSR radar operating in the E/F band.

Poprad SAM systems can be located at a distance of up to 40 km and receive target designation via radio channel from combat control vehicles WD-95 (later WD-2001), or directly from the MMSR radar.

The Kobra air defense system offered for export includes Poprad SAM systems and towed ZUR-23-2KG JODEK-G SAM systems. Each Kobra battery consists of six ZUR-23-2KG-1s, four Poprad SAM systems (see photo), a 3D MMSR S-band radar (see photo) and two WD-95 (WD-2001) command posts. All vehicles of the complex are placed on the chassis of Land Rover Defender 110.

Characteristics:

	Grom	Piorun
Range of fire, m: - minimum - maximum	500 up to 5500	500 up to 6000
The height of the flight of the targets, m: - minimum - maximum	10 3500	10 3600
Flight Speed of the Affected Targets, m/s: - inhalation - towards	320 400
Probability of hitting a non-manoeuvrable target	0.6	0.7
Dimensions, mm: - caliber - length	72 1648	72 -
Average flight speed, m/sec.	580	660
Weight in combat position, kg	18.5	-
Mass of the rocket, kg	10.25	-
Weight of combat unit, kg	1.27	-
The time to move to combat position, s	13
Self-liquidation time, s	14-17
Temperature range of combat application, deg	between -35 and +50

Testing:

It should be noted that 14 years after the end of the Great Patriotic War, in the course of work on the development of the projectile engine for "remote mining", in his letter (out. 5/V 59) to the Director of Research Institute-582 State Committee of the Council of Ministers of the USSR on Defense Technology, Comrade S.I. Chichkov. (Balashikha 1, Moscow region), Deputy Director of Research Institute-147 (now FSUE "SNPP" Splav "(Tula) Alexander Nikitovich Ganichev reported: "...I recommend for the variant of an optic non-rotating projectile to use the launch rails for the projectile M-31 /BM-31-12/ which requires the diameter of the cassette to change to 300 mm".