2K11 Krug
The 2K11 Krug (circle) is a Soviet and now Russian medium-range, medium-to-high altitude surface-to-air missile (SAM) system. The system was designed by NPO Novator and produced by Kalinin Machine Building Plant. Its GRAU designation is "2K11." Its NATO reporting name is SA-4 Ganef, after the Yiddish (originally Hebrew) word yi meaning 'thief'; the name was used because the system resembled the Bristol Bloodhound.
Also recorded as Krug · SA-4 Ganef · Ganef
2K11 Krug

George Chernilevsky · CC BY-SA 3.0
- Name
- 2K11 Krug NATO reporting name: SA-4 "Ganef"
- Field
- surface-to-air missile system and self-propelled anti-aircraft weapon.
- Region
- Soviet Union.
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Documentary summary
The 2K11 Krug (circle) is a Soviet and now Russian medium-range, medium-to-high altitude surface-to-air missile (SAM) system. The system was designed by NPO Novator and produced by Kalinin Machine Building Plant. Its GRAU designation is "2K11." Its NATO reporting name is SA-4 Ganef, after the Yiddish (originally Hebrew) word yi meaning 'thief'; the name was used because the system resembled the Bristol Bloodhound.
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Authority files
wikidata · Q587709 · wikipedia · 2K11 Krug
In this article
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — 2K11 Krug NATO reporting name: SA-4 "Ganef" • Origin — Soviet Union • Type — Transportable SAM system • Is Vehicle — yes • Is Uk — yes • Service — 1965–present 1965–1990s (USSR) • Used By — See list of operators • Designer — Lyulev Novator • Design Date — 1957 • Manufacturer — MZiK • Variants — Krug, Krug-A, Krug-M, Krug-M1, Krug-M2, Krug-M3 • Spec Label — 2K11 Krug • Length — (with missiles) • Height — ftin (with missiles) • Crew — 3 to 5 • Engine — V59 V-12 water-cooled diesel • Engine Power — 520 hp • Pw Ratio — 17.33 hp/t • Clearance — ftin • Launch Platform — 2P24 SPU • Traverse — 360° • Elevation — 45°
Development and service
Development and service
Development of the Krug ZRK-SD (2K11) air defense system started in 1957 by the Lyulev OKB design bureau. It was first displayed during a parade in Moscow in May 1965. The system started to be fielded in 1967 and became fully operational in 1969. It was used by the Soviet Army as a long-range SAM. The early version of the Krug entered service in 1965. The first operational deployment version, the Krug-A, entered service in 1967, with extensively modified versions, the Krug-M in 1971 and the Krug-M1 in 1974, which were developed to rectify problems discovered during army service. A target drone called 9M316M Virazh, developed from obsolete Krug missiles, was proposed for export in 1994. The 2K11 was briefly operated by the Soviet army during the war in Afghanistan in 1979 and 1980, but was withdrawn several months after the initial invasion. In 1997, it was reported that, between 1993 and 1996, some 27 fire units of Krug and 349 missiles had been sold to Armenia. Poland flight tested four missiles in September 2006 against P-15 Termit (SS-N-2 'Styx') targets. • Illustration — The P-40 "Long Track" radar set.
Vehicles
Vehicles
• Illustration — The 1S32 fire control and guidance radar vehicle The TEL vehicles are tracked based on a GM-123 chassis and carry two missiles each on an elevating turntable for up to 360-degree rotation and 70-degree elevation. The two primary versions of the missile in service are the 9M8M1 (former designation 3M8M1) (2K11M "Krug-M") and 9M8M2 (former designation 3M8M2) (2K11M2/3 "Krug-M1"), both of which are believed to be known to the US DoD as SA-4B. The original 9M8 (former designation 3M8) (SA-4A) was first introduced into service in 1965 and followed by the upgraded 9M8M (2K11A "Krug-A") in 1967 before the 9M8M1 in 1971 and the 9M8M2 in 1973. The 9M8M2 actually has a lower maximum engagement altitude and shorter range in exchange for better performance in engaging aircraft close to the battery. Each battery typically consists of two 9M8M1 missiles and four 9M8M2 missiles as well as the following radars: • P-40 (1S12) E-band early warning radar (also used by the 2K12 Kub and 9K33 Osa, range 175 km/108 miles) (modified AT-Ts), in divisions command post • 1S32 H-band continuous wave fire control and guidance radar (range 128 km/80 miles) • PRV-9 E-band height finding radar (also used by the 2K12 Kub and 9K33 Osa, range 240 km/148 miles), in regiments or brigades command post The P-40 radar is mounted on a modified AT-T vehicle. The launchers (2P24) and 1S32 radar are mounted on GM-123/ GM-124. The PRV-9 radar is mounted on a truck. Batteries may also feature Ural 375D trucks 2T6 carrying spare missiles for reloading the launchers.
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — 9M8 • Origin — Soviet Union • Type — Surface-to-air missile • Is Missile — yes • Is Uk — yes • Variants — 3M8 (later 9M8) Krug, 9M8M Krug-M, 9M8M1 Krug-M1, 9M8M2 Krug-M2, 9M8M3 Krug-M3. • Spec Label — 9M331 • Length — ftin • Diameter — ftin • Filling — Frag-HE • Detonation — contact and proximity fuzes • Propellant — kerosene fuelled ramjet • Vehicle Range — 55 km • Altitude — 24500 m • Boost — four solid fuel booster rocket motors • Speed — Mach 4 • Guidance — Radio command The missiles are launched with the aid of four solid rocket fuel rocket motors inside boosters attached to the outside of the missile. Once they have burned and the missile is aloft, a liquid-fuelled ramjet sustainer engine is ignited. It reaches speeds of up to Mach 4 and has an effective range of 50–55 km (31–34 miles) depending upon the version. It carries a 135 kg (300 lb) fragmentation warhead. Possible engagement altitudes range from 100 m to 27 km (330-88,500 feet). The 3M8 missile was designed and produced by NPO Novator. Optical tracking is possible for guidance in a heavy ECM environment.
Survivability and anti-jamming capabilities
Survivability and anti-jamming capabilities
The Krug had several features that improved the survivability of the radar against anti-radiation missiles. In PI mode (ПИ) the system only briefly illuminated the target and the computer calculated its prolonged path based on data received from early warning radars. After a longer passive period the main radar illuminated the calculated flight direction of the target for a few seconds and recalculated the path of the target, if the distance between the calculated track and the actual position was greater than 7 km. As a result, the system emitted detectable signals only for a few seconds every few minutes, making it difficult to jam or launch an anti-radar missile against the Krug. The system was also able to track the target in full-passive automated PNS (ПHC) mode based on the data provided by "Long Track" mobile EWR via radio datalink. In this mode it was almost impossible to detect the Krug system until the moment of a missile launch, because the Krug did not emit radiation at all. In 3M mode (3m aka three-point) the Krug could home on a jamming target (e.g., AN/ALQ-99). Jamming signals that were supposed to protect the aircraft made it into a target in this mode.
Structure of Krug missile system
Structure of Krug missile system
SAM-regiment have two SAM-battalions, SAM-brigade have three SAM-battalions. In each headquarter, brigade, regiment and battalion, is one command battery. In each SAM-battalion have three SAM-batteries. • Self-propelled launch vehicle 2P24 on GM-123 base, three in each SAM- battery • Rocket guidance station 1S32 on GM-124 base, one in each SAM- battery • Target detection station 1S12 on modified AT-T base, one in each command battery • Transporter-loader vehicle 2T6 on Ural truck base, one in each SAM- battery
Variants
Variants
• 2K11A Krug A • 2K11M • 2K11M1 • M-31 Krug M – naval
Operators
Operators
• Illustration — Operators
Current
Current
• − 2 batteries As of 2026. • – 2 batteries As of 2026.
Former
Former
• Illustration — UK MoD Intelligence assessment dated 1968. • - Operated at least until 2021. • – 30, in reserve • - 9 batteries. Phased out in early 1990s. • - Passed onto successor state. • Germany – Phased out during the 1990s • – Operated at least until 2008. • - 18 batteries in 1991. Phased out in middle 1990s. • - Operated at least until 2021. • - Operated at least until 2021. • – 30. Phased out in 2011. • – 500 launchers (2007) (phased out in 1990s) Missiles used as targets for training(Virazh/-M 9M316M) • - Passed on to successor states. • - 100 launchers in 2014. Phased out.
Context
Primary material
Context
The circumstances in which 2K11 Krug stands. Recorded as a kind of self-propelled anti-aircraft weapon. Held in Bundeswehr Museum of German Defense Technology. Manufactured by Kalinin Machine-Building Plant. Developed by Veniamin Yefremov.
Documents and archives
Primary material
Documents and archives
institutional register
- Internet Archive holdings naming 2K11 Krug
Unverified · Internet Archive
authority record
- Wikidata, structured authority record Q587709: 2K11 Krug
Unverified · Wikidata
reference work
- “2K11 Krug”, English Wikipedia, consulted as further reading
Reputable secondary · Wikipedia
References
Citations
References
Each reference names the institution holding it, so a reader may go to the document itself.
institutional register
Internet Archive holdings naming 2K11 KrugInternet Archive
Partially resolvedauthority record
Partially resolvedreference work
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Further particulars
Held on the record
Further particulars
Open the remaining particulars
2K11 Krug is classified as a surface-to-air missile system or self-propelled anti-aircraft weapon. Associated with Soviet Union. Connected to 1 other published record in the VALÉORINE Encyclopedia.
Within the Encyclopedia
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 14 August 2026.
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