2S9 Nona-S (Russian: Новейшее Орудие Наземной Артиллерии, lit. ”Newest Ordnance of Ground Artillery”)
The 2S9 Nona-S is an amphibious vehicle that can be propelled through the water by two rear water-jets. It is operated by a four-man crew comprising a commander, a driver/mechanic, a gunner, and a loader. The hull interior is separated into a command compartment, a fighting compartment and an engine compartment. A welded steel turret is located at the middle of the hull. The two-man turret has hatches for the gunner and loader respectively. The 2S9 utilizes a 120mm 2A51 mortar with a 1.8-meter-long barrel.
The weapon is actually a hybrid of a mortar and howitzer, being an unconventional design that lacks a direct NATO counterpart. It is a rifled, breech-loaded weapon capable of firing HE (high explosive), white phosphorus and smoke rounds, as well as laser-guided munitions like KM-8 Gran. It can engage in indirect and direct fire, as well as targeting armoured vehicles; its armour-piercing rounds can penetrate the equivalent of 600-650 mm of steel plate at up to a kilometre.
Development bureau: ЦНИИточмаш (Podolsk, USSR)
Assembly: СКБ-172 (Perm, USSR)
Years of production: 1979-1987
In service: 1981
Production: 1432
Crew: 4
Engine: 8 cylinders, 15900 cc
Power: 240 HP
Max speed: 62 km/h
Rate of fire: 10 rpm
Fire range:
→ 8500 m (projectiles)
→ 7100 m (mines)
Weight: 8500 kg
