2S9 Nona

2S9 Nona
Type - air-droppable self-propelled mortar
Place of origin - Soviet Union
Service history
In service - 1981-present
Wars - Soviet-Afghan War / Russo-Georgian War / Syrian Civil War / Russo-Ukrainian War
Production history
Designer - TSNIITOCHMASH
Designed - 1974-1980
Manufacturer - Motovilikha Plants
Produced - 1979-1989
Specifications
Mass - 8.7 tonnes
Length - 6.02 m
Barrel length - approx. 1.8 m or 2.88 m
Width - 2.63 m
Height - 2.3 m
Crew - 4
Caliber - 120 mm
Elevation - -4 to +80 degrees
Traverse - 70 degrees
Rate of fire - 10 rpm, max; 4 rpm, sustained
Effective firing range - 8.8 km (conventional); 12.8 km (extended)
Armor - 15 mm max
Main armament - 120 mm 2A60 mortar
Secondary armament - 7.62 mm machine gun
Engine - 5D20 Diesel (240 hp)
Power/weight - 27.1 hp/tonne
Payload capacity - 40-60 rounds
Suspension - torsion
Ground clearance - 450 mm
Fuel capacity - 400 liters
Operational range - 500 km
Maximum speed - 60 km/h (road); 9 km/h (water)
The 2S9 NONA (Russian: Новейшее Орудие Наземной Артилерии, lit. 'Newest Ordnance of Ground Artillery') is a 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.
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 120 mm 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 600-650 mm of steel plate at up to a kilometre.
Operational History
They have been deployed by Russia during the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine. In July 2022 video on social media purported to show Ukrainian forces using M777 to destroy towed 2B16 Nona-K in Hoptivka on the border to Russia. In August 2022 Ukraine's armed forces claimed to use four captured, Russian 2S9 against Russian forces. In November 2022 a 2S23-SVK Nona was photographed in Ukrainian service, it was reportedly captured from Russian forces in March and took months to refit.
Variants
Variants of the 120 mm Nona mortar:
2S23 Nona-SVK - A BTR-80 based version. The 2S23 uses a slightly modified version of the 2A51 mortar, designated the 2A60. Through 2005 285 have been produced.
2B16 Nona-K - A towed version. Fitted with a muzzle brake.

Current operators
 Azerbaijan: 18 2S9.
 Belarus: 48 2S9.
 China
 Kazakhstan: 25 2S9.
 Kyrgyzstan: 12 2S9.
 Moldova: 9 2S9.
 Russia: more than 780 (including 500 in store) 2S9 Nona-S, 42 2S23 Nona-SVK and 124 2B16 Nona-K.
 Syria - quantity unknown.
 Turkmenistan: 203 2S9.
 Ukraine: 2 2B16 and 40 2S9. 2S9 and 2B16 versions have used by both sides during Russo-Ukrainian War.
 Uzbekistan: 54 2S9.
 Venezuela - 18 Nona SVK, ordered 2009, delivered 2011-2012. 13 in service as of 2016.

2S31 Vena tracked 120 mm mortar system (2A80)