OVERVIEW:  The SA-8a GECKO (9M33 Osa) air defense unit is a highly mobile, short range, low to medium altitude, surface-to-air point defense system using command guidance to protect ground forces or strategic ground facilities from air attack.

DETAILS:  Each SA-8 air defense unit employs a single command post and four TELARs along with a pair of replenishment vehicles. Multiple batteries are then cued, via radi0 frequency datalinks, by a supporting acquisition radar package. In Soviet service this was typically the P-40 LONG TRACK.  Export systems were usually supplied with some configuration of the P-15/P-19 FLAT FACE, P-15M SQUAT EYE, or P-12/P-12 SPOON REST acquisition radar.  

 After cueing by the acquisition radar, a TELAR tracks and engages the target using its LAND ROLL radar system. Each TELAR is able to launch and guide two missiles against one target simultaneously, with each missiles being guided on different frequencies, complicating ECCM measures.  The TELARs are capable of independent operation. 


Specifications:

Maximum Acquisition Range: 	16 nm (30 km)
Maximum Tracking Range:		11 nm (20 km)
Range:				0.81-4.8 nm (1.5-9 km)
Engagement Altitude:		164-16,404 ft (50-5,000 m)
Max target speed: 		1.22 mach knts (1512 km/h)   
Kill probability:		0.35–0.85 (single missile v. fighter-type aircraft)
Reload time:			5 minutes (approx)
Reaction Time			26 seconds
Mobility:			mobile


NOTES:  IOC: 1972. The SA-8 TEL is fully amphibious, and can be deployed in four minutes. Export variants were marketed as the 9K33 Romb.


SOURCES: "9K33 Osa/Romb Self Propelled Air Defence System / SA-8 Gecko." Air Power Australia. Accessed December 12, 2016. http://www.ausairpower.net/APA-9K33-Osa.html ; "9K33 Osa." Weapon Systems.net. Accessed December 11, 2016. weaponsystems.net/weaponsystem/EE05%20-%20SA-8%20Gecko.html ; "Osa (SA-8 Gecko)." Military Today.com. Accessed December 12, 2016. http://www.military-today.com/missiles/osa.htm ; 9M9." Guide to Military Equipment and Civil Aviation. Accessed December 10, 2016. http://www.deagel.com/Surface-to-Air-Missiles/9M9_a000831001.aspx ; "Legacy Air Defence System Vehicles." Accessed December 10, 2016. "2K12 Kub/Kvadrat Self Propelled Air Defence System / SA-6 Gainful" Air Power Australia. Accessed January 21, 2017. http://www.ausairpower.net/APA-2K12-Kvadrat.html.; IHS. "2K12 Kub." Land Warfare Platforms: Artillery & Air Defence, 01 April 2016; http://www.ausairpower.net/APA-2K12-Kvadrat.html ; US Army.; OPFOR WORLDWIDE EQUIPMENT GUIDE, Vol 2: Airspace and Air Defense Systems. TRADOC DCSINT Threat Support Directorate, December 2011, pg. 6-71 ; Vestnik-pvo; "Self-propelled air devense missile system 2K12 'Cube'". Accessed December 10, 2016. http://pvo.guns.ru/russia/index33.htm; Jane's Land Warfare Platforms: Artillery & Air Defense, "2K12 Kub"; "2K12 M2 KUB - NATO Code: SA-6 GAINFUL | Ministry of Defence & Armed Forces of the Czech Republic." Ministerstvo Obrany a Armáda Ceské Republiky. Accessed December 12, 2018. http://www.army.cz/scripts/detail.php?id=6318 ; IHS. "9K33 Osa." Land Warfare Platforms: Artillery & Air Defence, 17 April 2015 ; "9K33 Osa/Romb Self Propelled Air Defence System / SA-8 Gecko." Air Power Australia. Accessed December 12, 2016. http://www.ausairpower.net/APA-9K33-Osa.html