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Missile ForcesRussia

2K12 Kub (SA-6 Gainful)

Surface-to-air missile systemFielded 1967Pending verification
Missile ForcesRUS
Identification silhouette. Not drawn to scale between entries.
Fact cardConfidence · Source
System
TypeSurface-to-air missile system
Date of introduction1967
ProliferationAt least 26 countries
Crew3Med[1]
Flight performance
ChassisModified PT-76Med[1]
EngineModel V-6RMed[1]
Thrust / power240 hp at 1,800 rpmMed[1]
Speed44 km/h27 mph · 24 ktAutomated check: outside the expected range for this type; verify against the source.Low[1]
Protection
Hull Armor TypeThe SA-6 vehicle is based to the ZSU-23-4 self-propelled air defence system and the ASU-85 self-propelled anti-tank gun.Med[1]
NBC Protectioncollective overpressure and filtrationMed[1]
Fire control
Tactical RadioDepends on which country the SA-6 is operating in.Med[1]
Radars and sonarsSURN 1S91 "Straight Flush" RadarMed[1]
BandIt is operating in C-Band surveillance and aquisition radar, combined with an operating in I-Band tracking and illuminating radar.Med[1]
Maximum Range75 kmMed[1]
Beamwidth1 degMed[1]
Variants
2K12 KubThe 2K12 Kub (NATO: SA-6 Gainful) was the baseline variant of the Kub family of medium-range surface-to-air missile (SAM) systems.[1]
2K12M Kub-MThis is a slightly modernised variant of the Kub, which completed development in 1968, a year after the baseline variant of the Kub entered service.[1]
2K12E KvadratThe Kvadrat is an export variant of the 2K12M Kub-M and was developed in 1971. It featured improvements to make it more suited to operation in tropical climates, and featured changes to the ECM protection system and the IFF system.[1]
2K12M1 Kub-M1This is a modernised variant of the Kub, which was accepted into service with the Russian armed forces in January 1973.[1]
2K12M3 Kub-M3The Kub-M3 is a modernised variant of the Kub complex, and was accepted into service with the Soviet armed forces in 1976.[1]
2K12M3S Kub-M3SThis was a variant of the Kub-M3 which is very similar in terms of capabilities, but was also provided with additional jamming resistance against some forms of EW.[1]
2K12 Kub-M4The Kub-M4 was a hybrid system which uses both Kub and Buk elements, and was implemented to speed along the development of the 9K37 Buk.[1]
2K12M3A Kub-M3AThis was a modernised variant of the Kub-M3 which was capable of launching the more modern 3M9M4 missile.[1]
Weapons and payload options · 4Confidence · Source
Kub-M3/3M9M3Armament
Med[1]
Launcher
2P25 SPU Launch Vehicle
Kub-M1Armament
Med[1]
Guidance
semi-active radar homing
Kub-M3Armament
Med[1]
Guidance
semi-active radar homing
Kub-M4Armament
Med[1]
Guidance
semi-active radar homing
Summary

The 2K12 "Kub" (NATO reporting name: SA-6 "Gainful") mobile surface-to-air missile system is a Soviet low to medium-level air defense system designed to protect ground forces from air attack. "2К12" is the GRAU designation of the system.

Draft entry. Values come from the cited public sources and are awaiting editor verification.
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Operators
AngolaArmeniaBulgariaBosnia and HerzegovinaCubaCzech RepublicAlgeriaEgyptEthiopiaHungaryIndiaIranKazakhstanLibyaMyanmarPolandRomaniaRussiaSerbiaSlovakiaSyriaTurkmenistanTanzaniaUkraineVietnamYemen
Sources
  1. 2K12 Kub (SA-6 Gainful) Russian Surface-to-Air Missile System, U.S. Army TRADOC G-2 Worldwide Equipment Guide (ODIN)
    Published/updated 2026-03-20 · Tier 1 · checked 2026-10-10
Change log
  • 2026-10-10 Entry created from the Worldwide Equipment Guide (ODIN), bulk import