Air Defense

2K22 Tunguska

The 2K22 Tunguska is a Soviet-designed tracked short-range air defense system that combines twin 30 mm autocannons, 9M311-family surface-to-air missiles, search and tracking radars, and a protected self-propelled chassis. Built to cover maneuver formations against low-flying aircraft, helicopters, cruise missiles, and later unmanned threats, it appears in the Russia-Ukraine War mainly as a Russian front-line air-defense asset with visually documented combat losses.

Conflict side
RussiaUkraine
Built by
KBP Instrument Design BureauUlyanovsk Mechanical Plant
Built in
Soviet UnionRussia
2K22 Tunguska, Tracked self-propelled gun-missile air defense system, Air Defense

Profile

Type
Tracked self-propelled gun-missile air defense system
Conflict side
RussiaUkraine
Origin
Soviet Union
Service note
Entered Soviet service in the 1980s; still fielded by Russia and other operators

Service History

In service
1980s-present
Used by
Russian Armed Forces, Ukrainian Armed Forces
Wars
Russia-Ukraine War

Specifications

Crew
4
Armament
Two 30 mm 2A38/2A38M twin autocannons and up to eight 9M311 or 9M311M surface-to-air missiles
Missile engagement envelope
About 2.4-8 km slant range and 15-3,500 m altitude for 9M311-family missiles
Gun rate of fire
About 1,950-5,000 rounds per minute combined, depending on source and variant
Combat weight
About 34,000 kg
Mobility
Tracked GM-352M-family chassis; about 65 km/h road speed and 500 km range
Sensors
Surveillance radar with about 18 km detection range and tracking radar with about 16 km tracking range

Conflict Usage

Russia-Ukraine War
Side: RussiaUkraineRole: Short-range air defenseair defense

Russian 2K22M1 Tunguska systems have been visually documented as destroyed, damaged, abandoned, and captured during the full-scale invasion; Ukrainian forces have also used 2S6 Tunguska vehicles for short-range air defense against cruise missiles and Shahed-type drones.

Related Weapon Systems

Buk-M2, Tracked medium-range surface-to-air missile system, Air DefenseAir DefenseBuk-M2Tracked medium-range surface-to-air missile systemThe Buk-M2 is a Russian tracked medium-range surface-to-air missile system in the Buk family, using the 9M317 missile and networked radars to defend maneuver forces and key areas against aircraft, helicopters, cruise missiles, precision weapons, and some ballistic targets. In the Russia-Ukraine War it appears on the Russian side as part of layered battlefield air defense, where Ukrainian forces have targeted its launchers and associated radar vehicles.

Sources