In connection with the progress in the field of weapons, obsolete models are replaced with newer and more advanced systems over time. However, in some cases, older products may be of interest in the context of solving special problems. According to the latest reports of the domestic press, rather old anti-tank grenade launchers LNG-9 "Kopye" may find new applications. They are proposed to be introduced into the arsenals of Russian special forces. The latter will have to use such weapons to solve new special tasks.
The plans of the military department regarding the LNG-9 anti-tank grenade launchers became known on the night of February 8 from the new publication of Izvestia. Information about such weapons was obtained from an unnamed source at the Department of Defense. The military department, in turn, has not yet commented on press reports.
According to Izvestia, the reason for the new decision regarding the LNG-9 grenade launcher was the results of the use of various anti-tank weapons during the current war in Syria. In the arsenals of different armies and armed formations there are grenade launchers of different classes and types, both Soviet / Russian and foreign production. At the same time, the fighters were able to test the existing weapons in practice and compare them with other samples.
It is indicated that in the Syrian war, a number of armed formations used foreign-made anti-tank grenade launchers. The response to such a threat could be the Soviet / Russian RPG-7 grenade launcher, but their characteristics were not always sufficient to suppress the enemy. First of all, there was not enough firing range. In this case, an effective means of suppressing enemy grenade launchers were the SPG-9 "Kopye" products, which are distinguished by higher fire characteristics.
According to the latest reports, based on the experience of the Syrian battles, the Russian military department intends to introduce Kopyo grenade launchers into the arsenals of special units. The latter will have to use such weapons as a light portable weapon, suitable for destroying manpower, firing points, light armored vehicles and other targets. It is expected that the use of mounted grenade launchers will give special forces certain advantages and simplify the solution of some combat missions.
According to Izvestia, the SPG-9 grenade launchers will enter service with special forces after a certain upgrade. To improve the main characteristics and combat qualities, it is proposed to use a new sight, as well as updated ammunition. New types of grenades will have to be distinguished by a greater power of the warhead.
It is curious that the decision to return the LNG-9 grenade launchers to arsenals is similar to the ideas already implemented by some foreign countries. So, quite a long time ago, even after the results of the first operations in Afghanistan, the American command decided to supplement the existing weapons of the operating units with hand-held grenade launchers. This led to a certain increase in firepower, and also expanded the range of tasks to be solved. Certain savings have also become an important consequence of such decisions. The same tasks can be solved using anti-tank missile systems, but the use of such systems leads to an obvious increase in costs.
The SPG-9 "Kopye" anti-tank grenade launcher has been developed since the late fifties, work was carried out at GSKB-47 (now GNPP "Bazalt"). The finished weapon entered service with the Soviet army in 1963. For a long time, this grenade launcher was one of the main anti-tank weapons of the armed forces. At the beginning of the next decade, work was carried out to modernize the existing sample, and in addition, several new shots for various purposes with different characteristics appeared. The presence of several ammunition made it possible to obtain sufficient combat potential.
SPG-9 retained the status of one of the main means of fighting armored vehicles until the eighties. By this time, new anti-tank systems with guided missiles were created in our country, suitable for a full replacement of existing grenade launchers. Mass production and deliveries of new anti-tank systems to the troops made it possible to gradually reduce the proportion of mounted grenade launchers while increasing the effectiveness of the infantry's anti-tank defense.
Officially, the "Spear" is still in service with the Russian army, but the number of such systems has decreased significantly in recent decades. Due to the appearance of newer and more advanced anti-tank weapons, grenade launchers were sent for storage, written off or sold to third countries. A similar situation is with ammunition for the SPG-9. Having a certain stock of shots, the army managed to send for recycling or sell abroad a significant part of such products.
The LNG-9 grenade launchers, appearing at the height of the Cold War, were actively purchased by foreign countries. A significant part of the buyers of such weapons still continue to operate them. At the moment, the "Spear" products are in service with almost three dozen countries. It should be noted that the list of operating countries was significantly replenished in the early nineties, following the collapse of the Soviet Union. In connection with the well-known events in the Middle East, Soviet and Russian-made grenade launchers began to fall into the hands of various armed organizations. Such users of LNG-9 simply cannot be counted.
In the course of various conflicts of recent decades, SPG-9 grenade launchers were used not only in their original anti-tank role, but also for solving other problems. Due to the lack of large quantities of armored vehicles, they were used as a means of reinforcing infantry units and in fact became a replacement for light field guns. Despite the limitations in terms of the firing range (the maximum achievable - up to 4-5 km, effective - no more than 800-1300 m, depending on the type of grenade), the "Spear" grenade launchers effectively hit remote small-sized targets that did not have serious protection.
According to an unnamed source of Izvestia, the Russian military studied the experience of using heavy-duty anti-tank grenade launchers by foreign troops and armed formations. Analysis of the collected data showed that such a weapon, despite its considerable age, may be of interest to modern special forces. They can use the Lance as a lightweight, portable weapon for a variety of tasks.
According to the latest news, the SPG-9 grenade launcher must undergo some modernization before being adopted by the special forces. First of all, this weapon needs new targeting equipment. There are currently two types of scopes. For shooting in the daytime, an optical sight PGO-9 with 4, 2x magnification is offered. Use the PGN-9 passive infrared sight at night. These products were developed specifically for the "Spear" and have the required parameters. How exactly the modernization of the sighting systems will be carried out is unknown.
It can be assumed that the used day sight that meets the requirements will be retained. In the field of night sights, significant progress has been made in recent decades. There is reason to believe that a promising night sight, built on a modern component base, can be created for the use of SPG-9 in special forces.
Information on the development of new high-yield ammunition is of great interest. Grenade rounds for SPG-9 are caliber grenades for various purposes, equipped with a propelling charge. Several types of grenades are also equipped with a jet engine that provides acceleration during flight. The first ammunition for the SPG-9 was the 73-mm PG-9V round with a cumulative warhead capable of penetrating up to 300 mm of homogeneous armor. Subsequently, new ammunition was developed with improved armor penetration rates. Also, fragmentation ammunition appeared, among other things, characterized by the absence of a jet engine.
Having entered service with special forces, the modernized grenade launcher will have to perform various combat missions. He will have to retain the functions of anti-tank weapons and weapons to combat manpower or unprotected equipment. In connection with the progress in the field of ammunition and current trends, it can be assumed that the range of "Spear" rounds will be replenished with a product with a thermobaric warhead. The creation of a guided projectile looks possible in theory, but hardly makes any practical sense.
It should be noted that, having a number of positive features, the SPG-9 grenade launcher is quite large and heavy. The length of the non-separable system exceeds 2.1 m. The body weight of the grenade launcher is 47.6 kg. The tripod machine weighs 12 kg; the wheel drive used in the SPG-9D modification is 2 kg heavier. The ammunition is about 1 m long and weighs from 3.2 to 6.9 kg. Thus, the transportation of a grenade launcher with ammunition can be associated with certain difficulties. It can be transported in various military or civilian vehicles. Carrying weapons and shots by the crew is associated with well-known difficulties.
How the problem of mobility of the grenade launcher will be solved in a possible modernization project is unknown. An acceptable way out of this situation could be the installation of the "Spear" on one of the existing chassis, which are in service with the army. Such an improvised combat vehicle could solve urgent problems and increase the potential of the special forces. However, grenade launchers are often transported and used on existing equipment without any modifications.
The proposal to equip special units with SPG-9 "Kopye" mounted anti-tank grenade launchers, which was recently reported by the domestic press, is still ambiguous. The implementation of such a proposal will give spetsnaz some new opportunities. First of all, grenade launchers will increase the unit's firepower and increase its potential against certain targets. The development of new sighting devices and shots with increased characteristics will also have a positive effect on the overall effectiveness of the weapon. At the same time, there are problems in the context of mobility, which, however, can be solved in obvious ways.
It should not be forgotten that the imminent adoption of the SPG-9 by the special forces is still known only from the reports of unnamed press sources. At the same time, the source did not specify the approximate timeframe for the implementation of such a decision, and also did not name which parts would have to master a new weapon for themselves. Perhaps such information will be published in the near future. However, in this case we are talking about the rearmament of special units, and therefore all open information can be limited only to reports about the very fact of adopting modernized grenade launchers.
