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2S9 Nona
2S9 Nona-S 120 mm self-propelled mortar, 2016
Type	Air-droppable self-propelled mortar
Place of origin	Soviet Union
Service history
In service	1981–present
Used by	see Operators
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 t (8.6 long tons; 9.6 short tons)
Length	6.02 m (19.8 ft)
Barrel length	1.8 or 2.88 m (5 ft 11 in or 9 ft 5 in)
Width	2.63 m (8 ft 8 in)
Height	2.3 m (7 ft 7 in)
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 (5.5 mi) (conventional); 12.8 km (8.0 mi) (extended)
Armor	15 mm (0.59 in) max
Main armament	120 mm 2A60 mortar
Engine	5D20 Diesel 180 kW (240 hp)
Power/weight	20.2 kW (27.1 hp) per tonne
Payload capacity	40-60 rounds
Suspension	torsion
Ground clearance	450 mm (18 in)
Fuel capacity	400 L (88 imp gal; 110 US gal)
Operational range	500 km (310 mi)
Maximum speed	60 km/h (37 mph) (road); 9 km/h (5.6 mph) (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 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 m (5 ft 11 in) 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 (24–26 in) of steel plate at up to 1 km (0.62 mi).

Operational history

They have been deployed by Russia during the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine. In July 2022, video on social media purportedly shows Ukrainian forces using M777 to destroy a towed 2B16 Nona-K in Hoptivka on the border with 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 and took months to refit.

On 26 March 2024, Ukrainian forces destroyed a Russia 2S9 Nona 120 mm mortar with a GLSDB and left another “burning” in Zaporizhzhia. In June 2024 Ukraine used a drone to destroy a 2S9 Nona that had been equipped with turtle tank style add on armour.

Variants

Variants of the 120 mm Nona mortar:

• 2S23 Nona-SVK – BTR-80-based chassis mounting a 2A60 mortar, a variant of the 2A50.
• 2B16 Nona-K – A towed version. Fitted with a muzzle brake.
• 2S31 Vena – Is a similar concept based on the BMP-3 chassis. Longer barrel for increased range.
• 2S17-2 Nona-SV – A BRM-1K with a 2S9 Nona turret, in use by the Ukrainian Ground Forces.

Operators

Current operators

•  Azerbaijan: 18 2S9
•  Belarus: 18 2B23 Nona-M1
•  Kyrgyzstan: 12 2S9
•  Moldova: 9 2S9
•  Russia: 446 (excluding 500 2S9 in store in an unknown condition): 280 2S9 Nona-S, 42 2S23 Nona-SVK and 124 2B16 Nona-K
•  Syria - Quantity unknown
•  Turkmenistan: 17 2S9
•  Ukraine: 2 2B16 and 40 2S9. 2S9 and 2B16 versions have been 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.

Former operators

•  India
•  Iraq
•  Soviet Union

External links

• "2S9 Anona (Anemone)- 120mm SPH/Mortar". GlobalSecurity.org. Archived from the original on 12 June 2008. Retrieved 10 May 2008.
• Walkaround 2S9 Nona from Kremenchuk

References

• International Institute for Strategic Studies (February 2016). The Military Balance 2016. Vol. 116. Routlegde. ISBN 9781857438352.

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.
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7. Manning, Joshua (12 July 2022). "WATCH: Ukraine destroy Russian Nona-K guns with M777 Howitzer". euroweeklynews.com. Retrieved 19 November 2022.
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9. Campbell, Joseph (4 November 2022). "Ukrainian troops fire on Russians with captured weapons near key city". reuters.com. Retrieved 19 November 2022.
10. "Ukraine forces use GLSDB precision guided bomb to destroy Russian 2S Nona-S mortar carriers". Army Recognition. 27 March 2024. Retrieved 7 April 2024.
11. Altman, Howard (22 June 2024). "Ukraine Situation Report: Russia Now Launching Kalibr Cruise Missiles From The Sea Of Azov". The War zone. Retrieved 1 July 2024.
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13. "2S31 Vena 120mm Self-Propelled Gun". Retrieved 7 May 2023.
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15. "Ukrainian Version of the Nona Self-Propelled Mortar On the BMP Chassis Went Into Series (Video)".
16. The Military Balance 2016, p. 180.
17. The Military Balance, 2022, p.186
18. The Military Balance 2016, p. 187.
19. The Military Balance 2016, p. 188.
20. The Military Balance 2016, pp. 190–200.
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24. 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.
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29. ^ Jones, Jeffrey, ed. (19 October 2017). U.S. Marine Corps School Of Infantry SOI Complete Training Materials. Jeffrey Frank Jones. p. LIV. Retrieved 17 November 2023.

• Self-propelled artillery of the Soviet Union
• 120 mm artillery
• Gun-mortars
• Motovilikha Plants products
• TsNIITochMash products
• 120 mm mortars
• Field artillery of the Cold War
• Mortars of the Soviet Union
• Military vehicles introduced in the 1980s