Role

A light amphibious airborne self-propelled gun-mortar of the Russian Airborne Forces — the progenitor of the entire Soviet/Russian “Nona” family. The 2S9 “Nona-S” was developed by TsNII “Burevestnik” in the late 1970s on the BTR-D amphibious chassis to give the VDV its own organic artillery; it was adopted in 1981. The key innovation is the universal 120 mm rifled 2A51 gun-mortar, which fires high-explosive shells, rocket-assisted shells, mortar bombs of all types, and the shaped-charge OF-49 against armour. The 2S9-1M “Nona-SM” (2006) is a modernisation with a digital ballistic computer, a thermal channel for the commander, and support for the laser-guided “Kitolov-2” precision round (up to 9 km range). The vehicle is amphibious — it crosses water obstacles with two stern waterjets inherited from the BTR-D. It is air-droppable on a parachute platform; at 8.7 t it is the lightest SPG of any airborne force in the world. Crew of four inside the hull. Used in Afghanistan (1981—1989), Karabakh, both Chechen wars, Georgia (2008), Syria (from 2017), and Ukraine (from 2022). On the chassis and turret of the “Nona-S” the entire later family was built: the wheeled 2S23 “Nona-SVK” (BTR-80), the tracked 2S31 “Vena” (BMP-3), and the 2S34 “Khosta” (on the 2S1 “Gvozdika”).

Specifications

• Combat mass 8,7 t
• Hull length 6,02 m
• Width 2,63 m
• Height 2,30 m
• Ground clearance 0,42 m
• Crew 4 pers. (inside hull)
• Chassis BTR-D (amphibious, airborne)
• Engine 5D20 · 240 hp diesel
• Power-to-weight 27.6 hp/t
• Max speed (road) 60 km/h
• Max speed (afloat) 9 km/h
• Waterborne propulsion two waterjets
• Operational range 500 km
• Main gun 120 mm 2A51 (rifled gun-mortar)
• Elevation −4 … +80 °
• Traverse ±35 ° (without chassis turn)
• Range, HE up to 8.85 km
• Range, RAP up to 12.8 km
• Mortar range 0.5 — 7.1 km
• Range, “Kitolov-2” PGM up to 9 km (laser-guided)
• Ammunition stowage 25 rds
• Rate of fire 6 — 8 rds/min
• Fire-control system “Kapustnik-B” (from M-variants)
• Armour small-arms protection (aluminium alloy)
• Air-droppable parachute platform (Il-76, An-22, An-124)

Модификации

Operators