“Why has Khrizantema-S attracted the attention of our Emirati colleagues? It’s the world’s only antitank system capable of finding targets without optical visibility and destroying tanks of any type, including advanced models with dynamic armor,” explained Valery Kashin, the Kolomna Instrument Manufacturing Design Bureau's chief designer. The Bureau, located near Moscow, developed and manufactured the system.
“They have expressed an interest in the system and the pre-contractual work is currently underway,” added Kashin.
The Khrizantema-S self-propelled anti-tank system is installed on the tracked chassis of the new BMP-3 infantry fighting vehicle. This solution was enabled by unifying various components and assemblies to reduce the cost of production and subsequent operation of the machine, to improve its maneuverability, mobility, and ability to overcome floating obstacles.
The missile system can easily move at a speed of 45 kilometers per hour over rough terrain. On highways, it has a top speed of 70 kilometers per hour. It has the capacity to travel up to 600 kilometers without refueling. Importantly, the Khrizantema-S can transition incredibly fast from a marching to a combat state.
As soldiers joke, the Khrizantema can “bloom” in twenty seconds.
Today, Khrizantema-S is the world's only anti-tank missile system capable of detecting and destroying targets without optical visibility in smoke, fog, and snow, as well as at any time of the day, thanks to its radar and optical laser channels. The simultaneous operation of two channels allows technicians to track two targets and launch rockets automatically.
The 15 missiles in the system’s ammunition supply come in two varieties: antitank missiles with shaped-charge warheads or high-explosive antitank missiles. The system can destroy armored vehicles including tanks; engineering structures; low-flying, low-speed air targets; boats and tonnage ships; and enemy forces (in shelters and in the open field) at a distance of up to 6 km.
According to the Instrument Manufacturing Design Bureau's estimates, a battery of three Khrizantema-S military vehicles is equipped to repel 14 attacking tanks, destroying at least 60% of the advancing company. A high-explosive warhead incorporated into the missile system will further expand its application.