Profile
- Type
- Short-range self-propelled surface-to-air missile system
- Origin
- Soviet Union
- Service note
- Entered service in the early 1970s; still used in upgraded Osa-AK and Osa-AKM forms
Air Defense
9K33 Osa
The 9K33 Osa, NATO reporting name SA-8 Gecko, is a Soviet short-range self-propelled surface-to-air missile system that combines search radar, tracking radar, command guidance, and ready-to-fire missiles on a single amphibious 6x6 TELAR. In the Russia-Ukraine War it appears on both sides of the air-defense fight, including Ukrainian systems reinforced by Polish-supplied Osa vehicles and visually documented Russian losses.
- Built in
- Soviet Union
Service History
- In service
- 1972-present
- Used by
- Ukrainian Armed Forces, Russian Armed Forces
- Wars
- Russia-Ukraine War
Production History
- Designed
- 1960-1971 development period
- Built in
- Soviet Union
- Produced
- 1970-1988 for launch vehicles
- Number built
- Over 1,150 launch vehicles reported
- Variants
- 9K33 Osa, 9K33M2 Osa-AK, 9K33M3 Osa-AKM
Specifications
- Crew
- 5 on Osa-AKM launch vehicle
- Armament
- Six ready-to-fire 9M33M2 or 9M33M3 surface-to-air missiles on later Osa-AK/Osa-AKM vehicles
- Engagement range
- About 1.5-10 km for Osa-AK; Osa-AKM missile envelope listed up to 15 km in some references
- Engagement altitude
- About 25 m to 5 km for Osa-AK; Osa-AKM missile envelope listed up to 12 km
- Guidance
- Radio command guidance using onboard search, tracking, and missile guidance radars
- Mobility
- BAZ-5937 6x6 amphibious chassis; about 500 km road range and up to 8 km/h afloat
- Radar
- LAND ROLL acquisition and tracking radar set integrated on the TELAR
Conflict Usage
- Russia-Ukraine War
- Side: RussiaUkraine
Both Russian and Ukrainian forces have fielded Osa-family short-range air defense systems; Poland supplied Osa examples to Ukraine, and Russian 9K33 Osa losses are visually documented during the full-scale invasion.
Related Weapon Systems
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Pantsir-S1Self-propelled short-range surface-to-air missile and anti-aircraft gun systemThe Pantsir-S1 is a Russian mobile point-defense system that combines command-guided surface-to-air missiles, twin 30 mm automatic cannon, radar tracking, and electro-optical fire control on a wheeled combat vehicle. It is intended to defend military units, air-defense sites, and infrastructure from aircraft, helicopters, cruise missiles, precision weapons, and UAVs, and has been documented in Russian service during the Russia-Ukraine War with some systems captured and reused by Ukraine.
S-300Long-range surface-to-air missile systemThe S-300 is a Soviet-origin family of mobile long-range surface-to-air missile systems used for area air defense against aircraft, UAVs, cruise missiles, and some ballistic threats. In recent conflicts it has appeared both as a Ukrainian and Russian system in the Russia-Ukraine War and as a key Iranian strategic-site air-defense asset targeted during the Israel-Iran Conflict.
SAMP/TMobile long-range surface-to-air missile systemSAMP/T, also known as MAMBA in French service, is a Franco-Italian truck-mounted air and missile defense system built around Aster interceptors, a multifunction radar, and battery command-and-control modules. In Ukrainian service it fills a scarce long-range air-defense role against Russian aircraft, cruise missiles, drones, and some ballistic-missile threats.
2K22 TunguskaTracked self-propelled gun-missile air defense systemThe 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.
9K333 VerbaMan-portable air-defense system (MANPADS)The 9K333 Verba is a Russian shoulder-fired short-range surface-to-air missile system built around the 9M336 missile and a passive three-spectral thermal seeker. It is intended to engage low-flying aircraft, helicopters, unmanned aircraft, and cruise missiles, giving Russian small units a portable air-defense option in the Russia-Ukraine War.Sources
9K33 OsaPublisher: WeaponSystems.net | Note: Supports system background, production/manufacturer context, variants, and Osa-AKM specifications. | Accessed: 2026-06-20SA-8 GECKO / 9K33M3 Osa-AKMPublisher: GlobalSecurity.org | Note: Supports Osa-family engagement envelope, reaction time, radar, guidance, mobility, and missile specifications. | Accessed: 2026-06-20What Could Happen If Ukraine's Stock Of Soviet SAMs Runs DryPublisher: The War Zone | Note: Supports Russia-Ukraine War context that Poland provided 9K33 Osa systems to Ukraine as part of Soviet-era air-defense support. | Accessed: 2026-06-20Attack On Europe: Documenting Russian Equipment Losses During The Russian Invasion Of UkrainePublisher: Oryx | Note: Supports Russia-Ukraine War context with visually documented Russian 9K33 Osa losses. | Accessed: 2026-06-20File:POL 9K33 Osa.JPGPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports image identity and reuse status; the Commons page identifies the subject as a 9K33 Osa and records VRT-confirmed permission with attribution to Konflikty.pl. | Accessed: 2026-06-20