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The SPG-9 Kopyo (Russian: СПГ-9 Копьё, transliterated: Stankovyi Protivotankovyi Granatomet "Kopyo" - Easel Anti-tank Grenade Launcher "Spear") is a tripod-mounted man-portable, 73 millimetre calibre recoilless gun developed by the Soviet Union. It fires fin-stabilised, rocket-assisted high explosive (HE) and high-explosive anti-tank (HEAT) shaped charge projectiles similar to those fired by the 73 mm 2A28 Grom low pressure gun of the BMP-1 armored vehicle. It was accepted into service in 1962, replacing the B-10 recoilless rifle.
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 | This section needs additional citations for verification. (May 2014) |
The projectile is launched from the gun by a small charge, which gives it an initial velocity of between 250–400 metres per second (820–1,310 ft/s). The launch charge also imparts spin to the projectile by a series of offset holes. Once the projectile has traveled approximately 20 metres (66 ft) from the launcher, a rocket motor in its base ignites. For the PG-9 projectile, this takes it to a velocity of 700 metres per second (2,300 ft/s) before the motor burns out.
The SPG-9 is heavy, ~60 kilograms (130 lb), and normally transported by vehicle, and carried into position by its two person crew. It can be deployed in about a minute. The weapon is in service with a large number of armed forces, and a variety of ammunition is produced; however, they are mostly copies of the original Soviet PG-9 HEAT and OG-9 fragmentation high explosive (Frag-HE) rounds.
The SPG-9 is widely available to terrorists and maritime pirates such as in the Horn of Africa region, and in other regions to a lesser degree. It is not as popular as the RPG-7 because it must be mounted on a vehicle or boat and cannot be easily carried and shoulder fired. The SPG-9 requires much more skill to fire accurately than the RPG-7. There have been reports of these mounted in skiffs and larger "mother ships". The SPG-9 can typically be found mounted on a wide variety of vehicles known as "technicals" in Somalia.
A variant for use with airborne troops including detachable wheels was built as the SPG-9D.
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The SPG-9 was used by both sides during the Transnistria War.[7]
In addition to using the SPG-9 as light indirect fire artillery, members of Wagner PMC modified SPG-9 ammunition to be fired from more portable RPG-7 launchers during the Battle of Bakhmut.[8]
In mid October 2023 Israeli forces, during the 2023 Israel-Hamas War, captured a flyer produced by Hamas about destroying Merkava tanks. The flyer recommended the SPG-9 as an effective way of defeating the Israeli Trophy System designed to intercept incoming RPG or Anti-tank Guided Missiles. The SPG-9 was recommended due "simply by virtue of its projectile’s high speed".[9]
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| Round (projectile) | Type | Weight (kg) | Fuze | Length (mm) | Explosive content (kg) | Muzzle velocity (m/s) | Effective range (m) | Maximum range (m) | Armour penetration (mm) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PG-9 (PG-9V) | HEAT-FS | 4.39 | VP-9 | 920 | 0.322 (hexogen) | 435 | 800 | 1,300 | 300 | — |
| PG-9N | HEAT-FS | VP-9 | 920 | 0.340 (OKFOL-3.5)[10] | 435 | 800 | 1,300 | 400 | — | |
| PG-9VS | HEAT-FS | 4.4 | ? | 920 | ? | 1,300 | ? | 400 | - | |
| PG-9VNT (PG-9NT) | HEAT-FS | 3.2 | ? | 920 | ? | 400 | 700 | 1,200 | 600 or 450 behind ERA | Tandem-charge |
| OG-9V (OG-9) | FRAG-HE | 5.35 | GO-2 or O-4M | 1062 | 0.735 (TNT) | 316 | – | – | n/a | Cast iron casing |
| OG-9VM (OG-9M) | FRAG-HE | 5.35 | GO-2 or O-4M | 1062 | 0.655 (TD-50)[11] | 316 | – | – | n/a | — |
| OG-9VM1 (OG-9V) | FRAG-HE | 5.35 | GO-2 or O-4M | 1062 | ? | 316 | – | 4,500 | n/a | — |
| OG-9BG[12] (OG-9G) | FRAG-HE | 6.9 | O-4M | 1030 | 0.750 | 316 | – | 7,500 | n/a | Bulgarian made |
| OG-9BG1 (OG-9G1) | FRAG-HE | 5.48 | O-4M | 1024 | 0.750 | 250 | – | 4,200 | n/a | Bulgarian made |
Afghanistan[13][14][15]
Bulgaria : manufactured locally as Arsenal ATGL[16]
Central African Republic[17]
Democratic Republic of the Congo[18]
Georgia[19]
Iran: AMIG SPG-9[16]
Iraq[20]
Kyrgyzstan[21]
Libya[2]
Mali[22]
Moldova[23]
Romania: RomArm AG-9[16]
Russia[24]
Rwanda[24]
Sudan[25]
South Sudan[26]
Syria
Ukraine,[27] also used by separatist forces[28]
Vietnam[29] SPG-9T2
Turkmenistan
Non-state actors
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