SA8 Gecko (front)
Threat: medium
RWR
8
Symbols
HARM
117
Track Radar
HARM
—
Search Radar
effective
ecm
effective
chaff
no effect
flare
| Designation | Osa |
| Model | 9K33 |
| NATO | SA-8 Gecko |
| Brevity | SA8 |
| max range | 7.50 NM/13.89 KM |
| max alt | 21,000 FT/6,400 M |
| lock time | medium |
| guidance | Radar Command Guidance |
| country | Russia (1972) |
| category | Mobile Air Defense |
| notes | Mobile, tactical defense SAM system designed to defend ground forces from CAS aircraft. When active, easily identifiable by tall radar structure. It is an effective system that poses a threat to CAS and low flying fighters. It uses a spinning mast mounted search radar, and fixed planar array-style track radars. SA8 launchers rotates 360-deg, can engage in any direction. Brevity notes: known as the SA-8 Osa ('wasp') by the Russian military, but as the SA-8 Gecko by NATO, as such you may hear both brevities. |
| counter | Priority target for SEAD & CAS aircraft. Detectible via RWR, it triggers an RWR launch warning. Suppress with ECM. Engage with anti-radiation and stand-off munitions. Jets performing CAP and other non-CAS duties should be careful not to dip below 20,000ft over an active front-line where SA-8s might be present. |