The 2S9 Nona is a Soviet airborne self-propelled mortar built around a 120 mm gun-mortar on a tracked amphibious BTR-D-derived chassis. Designed to give airborne and other high-mobility units organic indirect fire, it combines mortar-style high-angle fire, direct-fire HEAT use, and compatibility with several Nona-family rounds. Its conflict record spans Soviet use in Afghanistan, Russian delivery to Syrian government forces, and 2014 Russia-Ukraine War service with both Russian and Ukrainian forces.
Soviet airborne artillery units used the 2S9 Nona in Afghanistan after the type entered service; VPK describes the system's first combat employment there in 1982 and Army Recognition identifies Afghanistan as an operational deployment.
Oryx documented Russian delivery of 120 mm 2S9 self-propelled mortars to Syria during the war, noting the vehicles were entering Syrian Arab Army service rather than a previously established Syrian fleet.
Role detailsRussian forces have fielded 120 mm 2S9 Nona systems during the full-scale invasion, with Oryx documenting visually confirmed Russian losses; Ukrainian forces have also used captured 2S9 Nona self-propelled guns, including trophy vehicles reported with the 79th Air Assault Brigade in 2022.
Role detailsThe 2S9 is useful as more than a simple mortar carrier because its breech-loaded 120 mm weapon can use purpose-built Nona projectiles and standard 120 mm mortar ammunition while staying light enough for airborne formations.
| Feature | Reader value | Source support |
|---|---|---|
| Air-droppable tracked chassis | BTR-D-family mobility lets airborne units move the gun-mortar with BMD formations and retain amphibious movement. | 2S9 Nona-S; 2S9 Nona-S SO-120 |
| Gun-mortar ammunition set | The system fires HE-fragmentation rounds, rocket-assisted projectiles, HEAT rounds, and ordinary 120 mm mortar bombs. | 2S9 Nona-S ammunition list; VPK 2S9 Nona-S article |
| Nona family commonality | The same weapon concept branches into tracked, wheeled, and towed systems, including the linked 2S23 Nona-SVK. | 2S9 Nona-S; 2S23 Nona-SVK |
The 2S9 is the tracked airborne member of the Nona 120 mm gun-mortar family; later rows adapt the same weapon concept for naval infantry, wheeled, and towed roles.
| Variant | Configuration | Designation notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2S9-1 Sviristelka | Naval infantry version | Army Recognition identifies the 2S9-1 Sviristelka as a naval infantry version with ammunition stowage increased from 25 to 40 rounds and production from 1988. Sources: 2S9 Nona-S SO-120 |
| 2S9-1M Nona-SM | Modernized tracked version | Army Recognition describes the 2S9-1M Nona-SM as an upgrade with a new fire-control system and satellite navigation, with production from 2007. Sources: 2S9 Nona-S SO-120 |
 | Wheeled BTR-80-based Nona family member | Army Guide lists the Nona-SVK as the wheeled armored amphibious Nona system sharing similar ammunition with the 2S9. Sources: 2S23 Nona-SVK, 2S9 Nona-S |
| 2B16 Nona-K | Towed Nona family gun | Army Guide lists the Nona-K as the light towed member of the unified Nona cannon family. Sources: 2S9 Nona-S |
Belspetsvneshtechnika lists rocket-assisted projectile 3OF50 among the ammunition types carried by the 2S9 Nona.
| Ammunition | Ammunition type | Firing evidence |
|---|---|---|
 | 120 mm HE-fragmentation round | Belspetsvneshtechnika lists HE-fragmentation 3OF49 with impact fuze 3V35 and radio fuze AR-5 among the 2S9 Nona's ammunition types, and VPK says the 2S9 can fire 3OF49 shells. |
 | 120 mm rocket-assisted projectile | Belspetsvneshtechnika lists rocket-assisted projectile 3OF50 in the 2S9 Nona ammunition set, and VPK says the 2S9 fires 3OF50 active-rocket projectiles to extend range to about 12 km. |
| 120 mm HEAT round | VPK says the 2S9 uses cumulative 3BK19 rounds against armored targets in direct fire, making the round part of the Nona family ammunition set for direct engagement of armor. Sources: VPK 2S9 Nona-S article |
Army Guide describes the 2S9 Nona and the 2S23 Nona-SVK as Nona-family systems that use similar ammunition.
| Compatible item | Item type | Compatibility evidence |
|---|---|---|
| 120 mm gun-mortar system | Army Guide describes the Nona family as unified systems that use similar ammunition, which includes the 2S9 Nona and the 2S23 Nona-SVK. Sources: 2S23 Nona-SVK |
VPK describes the first prototype under the 2S9 index appearing in 1976 before military trials.
Sources: VPK 2S9 Nona-S article
VPK reports that the installation was officially accepted for service on July 1, 1980 after trials at Luga and in Azerbaijan.
Sources: VPK 2S9 Nona-S article
VPK says the 2S9 first entered combat in Afghanistan in 1982, supporting stormtroopers and airborne troops.
Sources: VPK 2S9 Nona-S article
Army Recognition describes the 2S9-1 Sviristelka as a naval infantry version whose production began in 1988.
Sources: 2S9 Nona-S SO-120
Oryx documented Russian delivery of BMP-2s and 2S9 self-propelled mortars to Syrian government forces.
Sources: Oryx Syria Rearms Russian Deliveries
Oryx loss lists and Defense Express reporting document Russian 2S9 losses and Ukrainian use of captured 2S9 vehicles during the full-scale invasion.
Sources: Attack On Europe: Documenting Russian Equipment Losses During The Russian Invasion Of Ukraine, Ukraine's Fighters Apply Trophy 2S9 Nona Self-Propelled Artillery Gun to Destroy Russia's Armor
