SA-6 (Gainful) / 2K12 Kub Tracked Medium-Range Surface-to-Air Missile Defense System (1970)
The SA-6 Gainful self-propelled air defense system was produced between 1968 and 1985 and is still fielded today.
Design of the 2K12 is centered around the use of three rail-launched guided missiles utilizing an optical sight and continuous wave target illuminator. Missiles can detonate on impact or be set with a proximity fuze and hold an effective range of 15 miles against targets up to 45,930 feet in altitude. Each is powered by a solid fuel rocket motor and can reach speeds of up to Mach 2.8 which places any modern aircraft at risk. The system is categorized as a low-to-medium altitude interception device and its tracked nature assures that it can be relocated to any positions in defense of key installations. In its tracked form, the chassis makes use of six double-tired road wheels with the drive sprocket at the rear of the hull. The crew is entirely sealed in their armored vehicle while the traversing launcher - fitting the three missiles - sits atop the hull roof.
The 2K12 was modernized in 1973 to become the 2K12 Kub-M1. A further evolution of the system produced the improved 2K12 Kub-M3 of 1976. This was then followed by the 2K12 Kub-M4 in 1978 which was based on the 2K1 Kub-M3 and developed to work in conjunction with the newer 9K37 "Buk" anti-aircraft missile systems - which were inspired by the 2K12 family. The export version of the 2K12 became the 2K12E "Kvadrat" and these have since seen widespread use in Soviet/Russian-allied states and countries. The 3M9M1 became a variant in 1977 that was given an all-new tracked chassis, recognized by NATO as the "SA-6B".
Operators of the 2K12 include Algeria, Armenia, Bulgaria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cameroon, Chad, Cuba, Czech Republic (formerly as Czechoslovakia), Egypt, Hungary, India, Iran, Libya, Myanmar, Mozambique, North Korea, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Serbia, Syria and Vietnam. Wide-scale use of the series by Soviet/Russian forces is no more save for a few missile target imitator systems in circulation. Iraq and the former Yugoslavia are a few other former operators of the 2K12 series. Several localized and modified versions of the 2K12 have emerged in places like Poland and the Czech Republic.
In the Soviet inventory, the 2K12 Kub was superseded by the modern 9K37 "Buk" four-missile tracked system though both were eventually used as complements to one another for a complete integrated air defense network. Text ©2003-2013 www.MilitaryFactory.com • All Rights Reserved • No Reproduction Permitted
MilitaryFactory.com does NOT sell equipment/weaponry. Material presented throughout this website is for historical and entertainment value and should not to be construed as usable for hardware restoration, maintenance or general operation. Please consult manufacturers for such information. Our disclaimer. Email corrections / Comments to MilitaryFactory at Gmail dot com.
Specifications for the
SA-6 (Gainful) / 2K12 Kub
Tracked Medium-Range Surface-to-Air Missile Defense System
Country of Origin: Soviet Union
Manufacturer: Ulyanovsk Mechanical Plant ZiK - Soviet Union
Initial Year of Service: 1970
Production: 500
Focus Model: SA-6 (Gainful) / 2K12 Kub
Crew: 3
Overall Length: 24.28ft (7.40m)
Width: 10.50ft (3.20m)
Height: 11.29ft (3.44m)
Weight: 27.6 US Short Tons (25,000kg; 55,116lbs)
Powerplant: 1 x Multi-fuel liquid-cooled diesel engine devliering between 710 and 840 horsepower.
Maximum Speed: 40mph (65 km/h)
Maximum Range: 161 miles (259 km)
NBC Protection: None
Nightvision: None
Armament:
3 x 9M336 medium-range guided missiles
Ammunition:
3 x 9M336 medium-range guided missiles (no inherent reloads carried).
Variants:
2K12 - Base Series Designation; entered limited service in 1967, wide-scale service by 1970.
2K12M1 Kub-M1 - Initial Production Model; appearing in 1973.
2K12M3 Kub-M3 - Improved 2K12 series variant; appearing in 1976.
2K12M4 Kub-M4 - Based on the 2K12M3 with interoperability with 9K37 Buk missile systems; appearing in 1978.
9M336/3M9 - Improved moderznied version; available from 1977 onwards.
2K12E "Kvadrat" - Export Variant of 2K12 series
SA-6 "Gainful" - NATO designation of 2K12 series
SA-6B - NATO designation of 3M9 series
Operators: Armenia; Algeria; Croatia; Bulgaria; Cuba; Czech Republic; Czechoslovakia; Egypt; Hungary; India; Iraq; Iran; Libya; Myanmar; Mozambique; North Korea; Poland; Romania; Russia; Serbia; Slovakia; Soviet Union; Syria; Vietnam; Yugoslavia
By Decade:
• 1910 to 1919
• 1920 to 1929
• 1930 to 1939
• 1940 to 1949
• 1950 to 1959
• 1960 to 1969
• 1970 to 1979
• 1980 to 1989
• 1990 to 1999
• 2000 to 2009
• 2010 to 2019
• VIEW ALL
• Compare Tanks
By Type:
• 4x4 Military Vehicles
• 6x6 Military Vehicles
• 8x8 Military Vehicles
• Artillery Gun Systems
• Anti-Aircraft (AA) Guns
• Anti-Aircraft (AA) Vehicles
• Anti-Tank (AT) Guns
• Anti-Tank (AT) Vehicles
• Armored Cars
• Armored Personnel Carriers (APC)
• Battlefield Robots
• Halftrack Vehicles
• Heavy Tanks
• Infantry Fighting Vehicles (IFV)
• Light Tanks
• Main Battle Tanks (MBT)
• Modern Combat Tanks
• Medium Tanks
• Military Motorcycles
• Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRS)
• Reconnaissance Vehicles
• Special Purpose Vehicles
• Self-Propelled Guns (SPG)
• Tank Destroyers
• General Purpose / Utility Vehicles
By Nation:
• Afghanistan
• Britain
• China
• France
• Germany
• Iran
• Iraq
• Israel / Israeli Army
• Italy
• Libyan Army
• North Korea / North Korean Army
• Pakistan
• Russia
• South Korea
• Soviet Union
• Syrian Army
• United States
• VIEW ALL
World War 2:
• Artillery
• Infantry Fighting Vehicles
• Tank Destroyers (All)
• Tanks (All)
• Australian Tanks
• British Tanks
• Canadian Tanks
• Cruiser Tanks (UK)
• Czechoslovakian Tanks
• French Tanks
• German Tanks
• German Tank Destroyers
• German FlaK Guns
• German Reconnaissance Vehicles
• Hungarian Tanks
• Italian Tanks
• Japanese Tanks
• Romanian Tanks
• Soviet Tanks
• Swedish Tanks
• US Tanks
• VIEW ALL
World War 1:
• France WW1 Tanks
• Germany WW1 Tanks
• Britain WW1 Tanks
• US WW1 Tanks
• WW1 Artillery
• WW1 Tanks (all)
• VIEW ALL
Spanish Civil War:
• VIEW ALL
Korean War:
Vietnam War:
• VIEW ALL
Cold War:
• Cold War Tanks
• Cold War American Tanks
• Falklands War
• Post-WW2 British Tanks
• VIEW ALL
Gulf War (1991):
• VIEW ALL
Miscellaneous:
©2013 www.MilitaryFactory.com • Content ©2003-2013 MilitaryFactory.com • All Rights Reserved • Site Contact Email: militaryfactory at gmail dot com. The "Military Factory" name and MilitaryFactory.com logo are registered ® trademarks and protected by all applicable domestic and international intellectual property laws.
Top MF Stuff: 2013 Military Pay Scale | Military Ranks | WW2 Weapons | Sniper Rifles | Kts to Mph | WW1 Aircraft | Automatic Rifles | Aircraft Cockpits | Vietnam War Weapons | Main Battle Tanks | Submachine Guns | Shotguns | French Military Victories
Most photographic images appearing on this site are courtesy of the United States Department of Defense and are approved for public use. Other images acquired through the public domain. Digital art work courtesy of Dan Alex. Business Consulting by Kyle Williams. Material presented throughout this website is for historical and entertainment value and should not to be construed as usable for hardware restoration, maintenance or general operation. Please consult manufacturers for such information.
