SPG-9 Rocket Launcher: A Practical and Effective Weapon Against Armored Equipment

Defense analysts believe that combining the SPG-9 with night-vision equipment, laser cameras, and light mobile platforms can ensure its operational effectiveness against armored targets.

News ID: 87669

Date: 15 April 2026 - 10:29

TEHRAN (Defapress) - Mohammad Zarchini - The 73 mm SPG-9 rocket launcher, manufactured by the former Soviet Union, continues to be used as one of the most effective light anti-armor weapons in the arsenal of Resistance Forces and armies in the West Asian region.

Technical specifications and operational capabilities

According to information published by reliable defense sources, this weapon, which was officially recognized in 1962, uses a "tripod rifle" mechanism and a tripod design, allowing the operator to fire easily.

The weight of this system with a tripod is about 59.5 kg, the barrel length is 2.11 m, and its rate of fire is announced as five to six rounds per minute. The effective range of this weapon is estimated to be 800 meters against armored targets and up to 4,500 meters in indirect fire against infantry positions.

Variety of ammunition; tactical strength

Field sources report that HEAT-type anti-armor bullets with a penetration capacity of 300 to 600 mm in steel armor and high-explosive ammunition with long range provide significant operational flexibility to field commanders.

It is worth noting that the projectiles of this system operate with a two-stage mechanism; after the initial exit from the barrel at a speed of 250 m/s, a rocket motor installed at the end of the bullet is activated and increases the final speed to 700 m/s.

Effective presence in regional battlefields

A review of the combat record of the SPG-9 shows that this weapon has had a prominent presence in regional security developments over the past six decades, including its extensive use by Islamic fighters during the eight-year imposed war with the Baathist regime's army, its use by Lebanese Hezbollah units and Palestinian Resistance groups in confronting the Zionist regime's aggression, and its effective role in operations to liberate occupied areas from Takfiri groups in Syria and Iraq.

Defense self-sufficiency and domestic production

According to published reports, the Islamic Republic of Iran, as part of its defense self-sufficiency policies, has succeeded in localizing and producing upgraded versions of this system under the name AMI G SPG-9. This achievement is evaluated in line with strengthening the deterrence capability of the armed forces and meeting the operational needs of infantry and commando units.

Military experts believe that the continued production and use of simple, low-cost, and effective weapons such as the SPG-9, alongside advanced anti-tank missile systems, is a good model for countering asymmetric threats in the sensitive region of West Asia; just as Hamas, Islamic Jihad, and Hezbollah fighters used this weapon in heterogeneous battles with the Zionist regime and achieved good results.

The position of the SPG-9 rocket launcher in the defense doctrine of the countries of the region

Despite the emergence of advanced anti-armor systems, the SPG-9 rocket launcher has maintained its position in the defense doctrines of the region's countries due to its ease of maintenance, low operating costs, and acceptable effectiveness against light and medium armored targets.

Defense analysts believe that combining this weapon with night vision equipment, laser cameras, and light mobile platforms can ensure its operational effectiveness in the coming decades.