Osa-AK and Osa-AKM: Air Defense Classics

Today we’ll be taking a look at the Osa-AK family of air defense missile systems that will be put into four different in-game nations at once.

Osa-AK (Germany & Great Britain) and Osa-AKM (USSR & Italy): An SPAA at Rank VII At a glance:

• Can carry six missiles.
  
• Can launch two missiles at one target.
  
• Almost powerless against ground targets.
  
• Amphibious.
  
• No armor to speak of.
  
• Large in size, making it a big target.

Vehicle History
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In 1960, the development program for the autonomous “Osa” air defense system was launched, with several research and production enterprises joining the work. After lengthy development and testing, the first systems entered service in the USSR in only 1971, when there were agreements signed to further develop the Osa. In 1975, the Osa-AK modification appeared with six launch containers and improved search and tracking equipment. Soon after, to increase the effectiveness against helicopters, the Osa-AKM modification appeared with improved missiles and a more advanced radar. The Osa family of air defense systems is still in service with the Russian Armed Forces.
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Meet the Osa-AK and Osa-AKM!
The workhorse of the army’s air defense systems is coming to War Thunder in the Firebirds major update! The Osa will arrive to four nations at once: the Osa-AKM to the USSR, the Romanian Osa-AKM to Italy, the Osa-AK GDR modification to Germany, and the Indian Osa-AK to Great Britain. Both variants of the vehicle are identical in combat capabilities, but will differ in camouflage and radar antenna model. Let’s take a closer look!




The Osa is a wheeled air defense missile system with six launch containers, each capable of launching the 9M33M3 surface-to-air missile. This missile is quite maneuverable and has a launch range of just over 10 km, with the radar capturing and tracking the target and the gunner guiding the missile to the target through an optical sight. Due to the long operation of the cruise engine, the missile speed is almost constant over most of its trajectory. An interesting feature of the Osa is its ability to launch two missiles at one target — this makes the probability of hitting a target higher, however you’ll have to wait a couple of seconds between missile launches. For low-flying targets, the missile first goes up and then hits the target from above through “top-attack”!

Did you know? “Osa” in English means “Wasp”. Its NATO designation is “Gecko”.



Angled upwards, the SAM launch containers feature missiles that require a lengthy arming distance. Additionally, the missile warhead is fragmentation, which in short means you can try to attack armored vehicles, but only light ones and only at extreme distances. Against tanks and light reconnaissance vehicles nearby, the Osa is powerless, lacks armor, is large in size and the wheeled chassis has low power. Oh and by the way, the Osa is amphibious, paving the way for some interesting tactical opportunities!



The Osa-AK and Osa-AKM vehicles will be available for research in the Firebirds major update — don’t miss the dev blogs we’ve got coming to be the first to know all the news. Have fun in your battles!

Please note that this vehicle’s characteristics may be changed before it is added to the game.