- Side
- Ukraine
Ukrainian air-defense troops and mobile fire groups have used Igla MANPADS against Russian aircraft and missiles, including officially cited National Guard engagements with Su-25 attack aircraft and Russian missiles.
Role detailsAir Defense
Igla
Also known as
- 9K310 Igla-1
- SA-16 Gimlet
- 9K38 Igla
- SA-18 Grouse
- 9K338 Igla-S
- SA-24 Grinch
- 9M313
- 9M39
- 9M342
- Igla-S
- Igla-1
- Dzhigit
The Igla family is a Soviet/Russian shoulder-fired MANPADS built to give small air-defense teams a mobile, infrared-guided weapon against low-flying aircraft, helicopters, drones, and cruise missiles. Documented conflict use and fielding spans Ukrainian mobile air-defense teams, PKK use against a Turkish AH-1W helicopter, Syrian armed-group inventories, RSF fielding in Sudan, and Indian Army Igla-S teams reported in Operation Sindoor coverage.
Role in Conflicts
- Role in conflict
- Short-range air defense ambush
The PKK used a 9K38 Igla MANPADS in May 2016 to shoot down a Turkish AH-1W helicopter over Hakkari province near Cukurca, demonstrating access to a more capable shoulder-fired air-defense weapon during the conflict.
- Role in conflict
- Short-range air defense
Azerbaijan's president stated during the October 2020 fighting that Azerbaijani forces had seized 27 Igla complexes from Armenian forces, documenting Armenian/Artsakh fielding of Igla MANPADS in the conflict.
- Role in conflict
- Short-range air defense
Small Arms Survey documented 2023 imagery of an RSF fighter holding an Igla MANPADS and claiming the RSF had shot down a MiG near Omdurman; the report notes Sudanese government claims disputed the cause of the crash.
- Side
- Tigray forces
- Role in conflict
- Short-range air defense
Oryx visually documented 12 9K310 Igla-1 MANPADS among Tigray Defence Forces heavy weaponry during the 2020 Tigray War; a companion aircraft-loss list said Tigray forces had numerous Igla-1 systems and appeared to use captured MANPADS, while aircraft downing claims remained uncertain.
- Side
- India
- Role in conflict
- Point air defense against drones
India Today reported that Indian Army Igla-S teams used the shoulder-fired system during Operation Sindoor to intercept armed Pakistani drones, while Indian government coverage described shoulder-fired MANPADS as part of the layered air-defense response to Pakistani drones and loitering munitions.
Small Arms Survey identified video and photographic evidence that Syrian armed groups acquired Igla-1-pattern MANPADS and Igla-S systems during 2012-2014, while treating the standard 9K38 Igla evidence as limited to a trainer tube.
Role details- Role in conflict
- Short-range air defense threat to helicopters
A UK Ministry of Defence bravery citation for Operation Unified Protector described Apache AH1 crews being targeted by Libyan SA-24 surface-to-air missiles and identified the wider loyalist MANPADS threat during operations over Libya.
Profile / Specs
Profile
- Origin
- Soviet Union / Russia
- Built by
- KB Mashinostroyeniya
- Type
- Man-portable infrared-homing surface-to-air missile system
- Service note
- Introduced in the early 1980s; still fielded in post-Soviet and export inventories
- Designer
- KB Mashinostroyeniya
- Designed
- 1970s development period
- Unit cost
- Not publicly standardized; varies by launcher, missile stock, and export package
- Produced
- 1980s-present for the family, including later Igla-S production
- Number built
- Not publicly confirmed
Specifications
- Crew
- 1 soldier
- Armament
- Single infrared-homing surface-to-air missile in a shoulder-fired launch tube
- Guidance
- Passive infrared homing; Igla-S uses a dual-spectrum thermal seeker
- Engagement range
- About 500-5,200 m for 9K38 Igla; up to 6,000 m for Igla-S
- Engagement altitude
- About 10-3,500 m
- Ready-to-fire weight
- About 17 kg for the 9K38 ready-to-fire system
- Targets
- Low-flying aircraft, helicopters, UAVs, and cruise missiles
Variants
Igla records often mix Soviet/Russian GRAU designations, NATO reporting names, export names, and missile-round numbers. This entry keeps the main shoulder-fired family together while separating launcher mounts and carrier stations into relationships.
| Variant | Configuration | Designation notes |
|---|---|---|
| 9K310 Igla-1 / SA-16 Gimlet | Early Igla family MANPADS | Small Arms Survey lists 9K310 Igla-1 and 9K310-1 Igla-1M as confirmed systems acquired by Syrian armed groups, and Oryx visually documented 9K310 Igla-1 systems with Tigray forces. Sources: Fire and Forget: MANPADS in Syria, The Tigray Defence Forces - Documenting Its Heavy Weaponry |
| 9K38 Igla / SA-18 Grouse | Baseline shoulder-fired system | Army Recognition identifies the 9K38 Igla as the SA-18 Grouse MANPADS with a 1983 service entry and baseline engagement envelope used in the specifications here. Sources: SA-18 Grouse Igla 9K38 |
| 9K338 Igla-S / SA-24 Grinch | Improved Igla-S system | Rosoboronexport presents Igla-S as the export MANPADS family member with passive infrared homing, extended range, and multiple launch options; Small Arms Survey records Igla-S acquisition by Syrian armed groups. Sources: "Igla-S" MANPADS, Fire and Forget: MANPADS in Syria |
| Dzhigit twin-launcher mount | Twin ready-to-fire launcher mount | Rosoboronexport lists the Dzhigit support launching unit among Igla-S launch options, separating it from the shoulder-fired tube while keeping it within the Igla family context. Sources: "Igla-S" MANPADS |
Carrier Platforms
Luch documents ARBALET-K as a shipborne air-defense station that mounts Igla-type missiles.
| Carrier | Carrier type | Carriage evidence |
|---|---|---|
 | Shipborne air-defense weapon station | Luch describes ARBALET-K as a shipborne air-defense system that uses Igla-type guided missiles, making it a documented carrier for the Igla family. Sources: "ARBALET-K" short range shipborne air defense system |
Timeline
Igla Key Events
9K38 Igla enters service
The 9K38 Igla / SA-18 Grouse became the baseline Soviet shoulder-fired Igla system represented by this family page.
Sources: SA-18 Grouse Igla 9K38
SA-24 threat documented over Libya
UK Apache AH1 operations over Libya encountered Libyan SA-24 surface-to-air missile threats during Operation Unified Protector.
Sources: Army Apache crew members honoured for actions over Libya
Igla-pattern systems appear with Syrian armed groups
Small Arms Survey documented video and photographic evidence of Igla-1-pattern MANPADS and Igla-S systems acquired by Syrian armed groups during the early Syrian Civil War.
Sources: Fire and Forget: MANPADS in Syria
RSF fielding appears in Sudan imagery
Small Arms Survey documented 2023 imagery of Rapid Support Forces personnel with Igla-family MANPADS during the Sudan War.
Sources: Persistent Perils: Illicit MANPADS in the MENA Region
Igla-S reported in Operation Sindoor
India Today reported Indian Army Igla-S teams intercepting armed Pakistani drones during Operation Sindoor.
Sources: Op Sindoor: How IGLA-S missile system neutralised armed Pakistani drones
Related Weapon Systems
Sources
"Igla-S" MANPADSPublisher: Rosoboronexport | Note: Official export page supporting Igla-S role, launch options, guidance type, engagement range, altitude, and readiness data. | Accessed: 2026-06-20"ARBALET-K" short range shipborne air defense systemPublisher: State Kyiv Design Bureau 'Luch' | Note: Supports ARBALET-K mounting Igla-type guided missiles as a shipborne air-defense system and provides the reference used for the carrier-platform relationship. | Accessed: 2026-06-27SA-18 Grouse Igla 9K38Publisher: Army Recognition | Note: Reference entry supporting 9K38 Igla background, 1983 service entry, baseline SA-18 specifications, and Ukrainian operator listing. | Accessed: 2026-06-20Please don't forget to thank our warriors in personPublisher: Official website of the President of Ukraine | Note: Directly supports Ukrainian 2014 Russia-Ukraine War use of Igla MANPADS by a National Guard air-defense soldier against Russian missiles. | Accessed: 2026-06-20President presented first certificates for apartments to Heroes of Ukraine and families of fallen HeroesPublisher: Official website of the President of Ukraine | Note: Directly supports Ukrainian 2014 Russia-Ukraine War use of Igla MANPADS by a National Guard anti-aircraft gunner credited with destroying Russian Su-25 aircraft. | Accessed: 2026-06-20The PKK Could Spark Turkish-Russian Military EscalationPublisher: The Washington Institute for Near East Policy | Note: Directly supports 1984 Kurdish-Turkish Conflict use: a 9K38 Igla MANPADS was used by the PKK against a Turkish AH-1W helicopter in Hakkari province in May 2016. | Accessed: 2026-06-20President Ilham Aliyev addressed the nationPublisher: Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Azerbaijan | Note: Directly supports 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict Igla MANPADS fielded by Armenian forces and captured by Azerbaijani forces in October 2020. | Accessed: 2026-06-20Persistent Perils: Illicit MANPADS in the MENA RegionPublisher: Small Arms Survey | Note: Directly supports 1984 Kurdish-Turkish Conflict use: an Igla-S-type MANPADS was used by the PKK against a Turkish AH-1W helicopter; directly supports 2023 Sudan War fielding: Igla and Igla-S MANPADS were fielded by the RSF in 2023 imagery and claimed shootdown context. | Accessed: 2026-06-20Fire and Forget: MANPADS in SyriaPublisher: Small Arms Survey | Note: Directly supports 2011 Syrian Civil War fielding: video and photographic evidence showed Syrian armed groups had acquired Igla-1-pattern MANPADS and Igla-S systems during 2012-2014, with narrower caveats for standard 9K38 Igla evidence. | Accessed: 2026-06-30Army Apache crew members honoured for actions over LibyaPublisher: UK Ministry of Defence | Note: Directly supports 2011 First Libyan Civil War use: UK Apache AH1 crews operating over Libya were targeted by Libyan SA-24 surface-to-air missiles during Operation Unified Protector. | Accessed: 2026-06-30The Tigray Defence Forces - Documenting Its Heavy WeaponryPublisher: Oryx | Note: Directly supports 2020 Tigray War 9K310 Igla-1 MANPADS fielded by Tigray Defence Forces through visually documented TDF heavy weapon inventory. | Accessed: 2026-06-21List Of Aircraft Losses Of The 2020 Tigray War (2020-2021)Publisher: Oryx | Note: Directly supports 2020 Tigray War Igla-1 MANPADS fielded by Tigray forces and apparent captured-MANPADS use, while noting uncertainty around specific aircraft downing claims. | Accessed: 2026-06-21Op Sindoor: How IGLA-S missile system neutralised armed Pakistani dronesPublisher: India Today | Note: Directly supports 2025 India-Pakistan Conflict use: Igla-S MANPADS used by Indian Army air-defense teams to intercept and shoot down Pakistani drones during Operation Sindoor. | Accessed: 2026-06-21Operation SINDOOR: Forging One ForcePublisher: Press Information Bureau, Government of India | Note: Supports Operation Sindoor background for India's layered air-defense response, including shoulder-fired MANPADS countering Pakistani drones and loitering munitions. | Accessed: 2026-06-21File:9K38 IGLA (4968730444).jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Image provenance and licensing page; the file is listed as CC BY 2.0 and was reviewed from Flickr. | Accessed: 2026-06-20File:9K338 Igla-S (NATO-Code - SA-24 Grinch).jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Image provenance and licensing page for an Igla-S MANPADS and Strelets firing set photograph. | Accessed: 2026-06-21File:IGLA-S MANPADS at IDELF-2008.jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Image provenance and licensing page for an Igla-S MANPADS display photograph. | Accessed: 2026-06-21File:Missile 9M342 (Igla-S).jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Image provenance and licensing page for a 9M342 Igla-S missile photograph listed under Creative Commons licensing. | Accessed: 2026-06-21