2S9 Nona

The 2S9 NONA (Новейшее Орудие Наземной Артилерии - Newest Ordnance of Ground Artillery) is an extremely light-weight self-propelled and air-droppable 120 mm mortar designed in the Soviet Union, which entered service in 1981. The 2S9 chassis is designated the S-120 and based on the aluminium hull of the BTR-D airborne multi-purpose tracked armoured personnel carrier. More generally, the 120 mm mortar is referred to as the Nona, with the 2S9 also known as the Nona-S. Although no figures have been released, it is estimated that well over 1,000 2S9 were built.[2]

2S9 Nona
2S9 in Saint-Petersburg Artillery museum
TypeSelf-propelled air-droppable mortar
Place of originSoviet Union
Service history
In service1981 – present
Used bysee Operators
WarsSoviet-Afghan War
Syrian Civil War
War in Donbas
Russo-Georgian War
Production history
DesignerTSNIITOCHMASH
Designed1974-1980
ManufacturerMotovilikha Plants
Produced1979 – 1989
Specifications
Mass8.7 tonnes
Length6.02 m
Barrel lengthapprox. 1.8 m [1]
Width2.63 m
Height2.3 m
Crew4
Caliber120 mm
Elevation-4 to +80 degrees
Traverse70 degrees
Rate of fire10 rpm, max;
4 rpm, sustained
Effective firing range8.8 km (conventional);
12.8 km (extended)
Armor15 mm max
Main
armament
120 mm 2A60 mortar
Secondary
armament
7.62 mm machine gun
Engine5D20 Diesel
240 hp
Power/weight27.1 hp/tonne
Payload capacity40-60 rounds
Suspensiontorsion
Ground clearance450 mm
Fuel capacity400 liters
Operational
range
500 km
Maximum speed 60 km/h (road);
9 km/h (water)

Description

The 2S9 Nona-S is an amphibious vehicle that can be propelled through the water by two rear water-jets. It is operated by a four-man crew comprising a commander, a driver/mechanic, a gunner, and a loader. The hull interior is separated into a command compartment, a fighting compartment and an engine compartment. A welded steel turret is located at the middle of the hull. The two-man turret has hatches for the gunner and loader respectively.

The 2S9 utilizes a 120mm 2A51 mortar with a 1.8-meter-long barrel. The weapon is actually a hybrid of a mortar and howitzer, being an unconventional design that lacks a direct NATO counterpart. It is a rifled, breech-loaded weapon capable of firing HE (high explosive), white phosphorus and smoke rounds, as well as laser-guided munitions like KM-8 Gran. It can engage in indirect and direct fire, as well as targeting armoured vehicles; its armour-piercing rounds can penetrate the equivalent of 600-650mm of steel plate at up to a kilometre.[3][1][4][5]

Variants

Variants of the 120mm Nona mortar:

  • 2S23 Nona-SVK – A BTR-80 based version. The 2S23 uses a slightly modified version of the 2A51 mortar, designated the 2A60.[6]
  • 2B16 Nona-K – A towed version. Fitted with a muzzle brake.[4]

Current operators
  • "2S9 Anona (Anemone)- 120mm SPH/Mortar". GlobalSecurity.org. Archived from the original on 12 June 2008. Retrieved 10 May 2008.
  • Walkaround 2S9 Nona from Kremenchug
Map of 2S9 operators in blue with former operators in red
2B16 Nona-K
Nona-SVK

See also

References
  1. Marat Kenzhetaev (1998). "Self Propelled Artillery and Mortars". www.armscontrol.ru. MIPT Center for Arms Control, Energy and Environmental Studies. Archived from the original on 10 January 2010. Retrieved 3 May 2010.
  2. Jane's Armour and Artillery 1997-98 ISBN 0-7106-1542-6
  3. "The Russian BMD-1 Infantry Fighting Vehicle - TankNutDave.com". Archived from the original on 9 October 2018.
  4. 2B16 NONA-K, Army Guide, retrieved 16/02/2021
  5. 2S9 Nona, Military Today, retrieved 16/02/2021
  6. 2S23 Nona-SVK Self-Propelled Gun-Mortar, Global Security.org, retrieved 16/02/2021
  7. The Military Balance 2016, p. 180.
  8. The Military Balance 2016, p. 182.
  9. The Military Balance 2016, p. 185.
  10. Small Arms Survey (2012). "Blue Skies and Dark Clouds: Kazakhstan and Small Arms". Small Arms Survey 2012: Moving Targets. Cambridge University Press. p. 131. ISBN 978-0-521-19714-4. Archived from the original (PDF) on 31 August 2018. Retrieved 30 August 2018.
  11. The Military Balance 2016, p. 187.
  12. The Military Balance 2016, p. 188.
  13. The Military Balance 2016, pp. 190–200.
  14. "Syria Rearms". Archived from the original on 20 June 2017. Retrieved 15 June 2017.
  15. The Military Balance 2016, p. 203.
  16. The Military Balance 2016, pp. 205–206.
  17. Ferguson, Jonathan; Jenzen-Jones, N.R. (November 2014). Raising Red Flags: An Examination of Arms & Munitions in the Ongoing Conflict in Ukraine, 2014. Research Report 3. Armament Research Services. pp. 50, 70. ISBN 978-0-9924624-3-7. Archived from the original on 25 September 2018. Retrieved 17 March 2019.
  18. The Military Balance 2016, p. 491.
  19. The Military Balance 2016, p. 208.
  20. "Trade Registers". Armstrade.sipri.org. Archived from the original on 14 April 2010. Retrieved 20 March 2017.
  21. The Military Balance 2016, p. 416.

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