The Russian military-industrial complex (MIC) had been actively showcasing a short-range air defense system under the export designation "Sosna" at various exhibitions prior to the full-scale war against Ukraine. This system was intended to be a successor to the "Strela-10" complex, but it was never officially adopted by the Russian army.
Now, it seems that the Russians have decided to undergo a sort of "rebranding" of this development, giving it the designation "Krona-E" and starting to promote it more aggressively for export as if it were a new system specifically designed for combating drones.
More specifically, Russian sources report that the Kalashnikov Concern plans to present the "Krona-E" system during the IDEX 2025 exhibition, which is set to take place in the United Arab Emirates from February 17-21 of this year.
The Russians claim that "Krona-E" is the "most advanced" development aimed at protecting critical infrastructure from various types of drones. However, based on the image they provide of "Krona-E," it appears to be more of a variant of the aforementioned "Sosna" air defense system mounted on a BTR-82 chassis, which was first showcased during the propaganda exhibition "Army-2021."
However, there is one important detail: the Russians assert that the "Krona-E" system can utilize not only the 9M340 missiles for the "Sosna" system but also the 9M333 missiles for the "Strela-10."
0If we delve into the aforementioned "Sosna" complex, we find a classic example of a "long-term construction" within the Russian MIC. Development of this system began back in the 1990s, with the first presentation taking place in 2013, and in June 2019, the Russian Ministry of Defense even announced the adoption of the "Sosna" air defense system, although there have been no reports of actual deliveries to the troops.
Instead, there have been reports that this complex was showcased in variants mounted on MT-LB, BMP-3, and BTR-82 chassis, while the command of the Russian airborne troops expressed interest in their own version of the "Sosna" under the designation "Ptitselov," which was to be based on the BMD-4M.
1A notable feature of the aforementioned 9M340 missile for the "Sosna" complex is its two-stage design, smaller dimensions, and superior performance compared to the 9M333 for the "Strela-10." For instance, with a total launch mass of 42 kilograms (including the transport-launch container), the 9M340 has a claimed engagement range of up to 10 kilometers and an altitude of up to 5 kilometers; in contrast, the 9M333 has similar figures of 72 kilograms, up to five kilometers, and up to three kilometers, respectively.
It is quite telling that the Russians do not mention any intention to adopt this "Krona-E" complex into their air defense forces, so the story surrounding this air defense system can be perceived as merely one of the attempts by the Russian MIC to maintain its position in the global arms market.
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