The 9M111 Fagot (Russian: 9М111 «Фагот»; English: bassoon) is a SACLOS wire-guided anti-tank missile of the Soviet Union. "9M111" is the GRAU designation of the missile. Its NATO reporting name is AT-4 Spigot.

Development

The 9M111 Fagot was developed by the Tula Machinery Design Bureau (Tula KBP). Development began in 1962 with the aim of producing the next generation of SACLOS ATGM's, for use in both the man portable role and the tank destroyer role. The 9M111 Fagot was developed alongside the AT-5 both missiles use similar technology - only differing in size.

The missile entered service in 1970.

History

The anti-tank platoon of a Soviet BTR equipped motor rifle battalion had two ATGM squads, each squad has two 9M111 Fagot teams. The team consisted of 3 men - the gunner carries the 9P135 launcher and tripod as a back pack - the other two men carry two launch tubes each. The men also carry assault rifles, but do not carry an RPG - because unlike the earlier missiles there is only a small deadzone inside which the missile cannot engage the target. In addition to the four missiles the team carries, they normally have a BTR with an additional 8 missiles.

It can also be deployed from the BMP-1P, BTR-D and UAZ-469.

Description

The missile is stored and carried in a container/launch tube. It is fired from the 9P135 launcher post - a simple tripod. A 9S451 guidance box is fitted to the tripod - with the missile sitting just above. The 9Sh119 sight is fitted to the left side (from the gunners POV). The complete launcher system weighs 22.5 kg. The gunner lays prone while firing. The system can engage moving targets providing they are travelling at less than 60 km/h. The launcher post can traverse through 360 degrees horizontally, and +/- 20 degrees in elevation. The sight has a magnification of 10x and a 5 degree field of view. Up to 3 missiles a minute can be fired from a launcher post.

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 m/s. It is quickly accelerated to 186 m/s 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.

The launcher tracks the position of an incandescent infrared bulb on the back of the missile relative to the target - and transmits appropriate commands to the missile via a thin wire that trails behind the missile. The SACLOS guidance system has many benefits over MCLOS, with the accuracy of the system stated as 90% in some sources, though its performance is probably comparable to the TOW or the later SACLOS versions of the AT-3 Sagger.

Models

Missile

• 9M111 Fagot (NATO: AT-4 Spigot and AT-4A Spigot A) Entered service in 1970
• 9M111-2 Fagot (NATO: AT-4B Spigot B) Improved motor, longer guidance wire. Maximum range 2500 m. Improved warhead 460 mm versus RHA
• 9M111M Faktoriya (Trading post) (NATO: AT-4C Spigot C) Tandem HEAT warhead for improved capability (600 mm) against ERA.

Launcher

• 9P135 22.5 kg. Can only fire the 9M111 Fagot series.
• 9P135M Can fire the AT-4 9M111 Fagot series or the AT-5 Spandrel 9M113 Konkurs series.
• 9P135M1 Updated version of the 9P135.
• 9P135M2 Updated version of the 9P135.
• 9P135M3 Deployed in the early 1990s. Adds 13 kg TPVP thermal imaging night sight - range 2500 m at night.
• 9S451M2 A launcher with a night sight featuring an anti-dazzle system has been developed.

Users

References

• Hull, A.W. , Markov, D.R. , Zaloga, S.J. (1999). Soviet/Russian Armor and Artillery Design Practices 1945 to Present. Darlington Productions. ISBN 1-892848-01-5.

External links

• FAS
• [1] in Russian