- published: 21 Mar 2016
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The 9M113 Konkurs (Russian: 9М113 «Конкурс»; English: contest) SACLOS wire-guided Anti-tank missile of the Soviet Union. "9M113" is the GRAU designation of the missile. Its NATO reporting name is AT-5 Spandrel.
The 9M113 Konkurs was developed by the Tula Machinery Design Bureau (Tula KBP). Development began in 1962 with the aim of producing the next generation of SACLOS ATGMs, for use in both the man portable role and the tank destroyer role. The 9M113 Konkurs was developed alongside the 9M111; both missiles use similar technology, only differing in size. The warhead penetration is 600 mm vs RHA
The missile entered service in 1974. Iran began producing a copy, the Towsan-1/M113, sometime around 2000.
The missile is designed to be fired from vehicles, although it can also be fired from the later models of 9M111 launchers. It is an integral part of the BMP-2, BMD-2 and BRDM-2 vehicles. The missile is stored and carried in a fiberglass container/launch tube.
The system uses a gas generator to push the missile out of the launch tube. The gas also exits from the rear of the launch tube in a similar manner to a recoilless rifle. The missile leaves the launch tube at 80 meters per second, and is quickly accelerated to 200 meters per second by its solid fuel motor. This initial high speed reduces the deadzone of the missile, since it can be launched directly at the target, rather than in an upward arc. In flight the missile spins at between five and seven revolutions per second.