KS-19

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KS-19
On display at the National Museum of Military History in Sofia, Bulgaria
TypeAnti-aircraft gun
Place of originSoviet Union
Service history
In service1948−present
Used bySee § Operators
Wars
Production history
DesignerL. V. Lyuliev
Designed1947
ManufacturerPlant No. 4, Perm
Produced1948−1957
No. built10,151
VariantsSee § Variants
Specifications
Mass9,550 kg (21,050 lb)
Length9.45 m (31.0 ft)
Barrel length5.742 m (18.84 ft)
Width2.35 m (7 ft 9 in)
Height2.201 m (7 ft 2.7 in)
Crew15
ShellAP-T, APC-T, HE, HE-FRAG, FRAG
Caliber100 mm (3.9 in)
ActionSemi-automatic horizontal sliding wedge
Elevation+85°/-3°
Traverse360°
Rate of fire15 rpm
Maximum firing range
  • 21 km (13 mi) (horizontal)
  • 15 km (9.3 mi) (vertical, proximity fuze)
  • 12.7 km (7.9 mi) (vertical, time fuze)
References[1][2]

The KS-19 100mm anti-aircraft gun (Russian: КС-19 100мм зенитная установка) is a Soviet anti-aircraft gun that also features efficient capabilities against ground targets.[3]

Characteristics

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The KS-19 is a towed anti-aircraft gun that was specifically designed to excel in ground combat, particularly against armored targets and as artillery.[4] Due to its towed nature, it requires an external means of mobility, typically an AT-S Medium or AT-T Heavy tracked artillery tractor.[4] The 15-man crew is transported on the tractor, along with readily available ammunition for the gun.[4]

This rifled gun boasts a semiautomatic horizontal sliding wedge block, a power rammer, an automatic fuze setter, and a long muzzle brake.[5] The loading tray allows for quick and efficient ammunition loading, enabling a well-trained crew to fire a maximum of 15 rounds per minute.[4] The fire control system comprises the PUAZO-6/19 directional system, along with a SON 9 (NATO Reporting name 'Fire Can') or SON-9A fire control radar.[5] While the onboard sights are adequate for engaging air targets, greater accuracy is achieved when used in conjunction with the fire control radar.[4]

The ammunition is of a fixed type and is largely interchangeable with other 100mm rifled tank and field guns.[5] Anti-aircraft ammunition includes high explosive, high explosive fragmentation, and fragmentation types.[5] The two types of armor-piercing rounds are the AP-T (Armor Piercing-Tracer) and the APC-T (Armor Piercing Capped-Tracer).[4] The AP-T round is reputed to penetrate 185 mm of armor at a range of 1000 m.[4]

History

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The KS-19 gun was developed to replace the 85mm anti-aircraft guns that were used during World War II.[5] It was widely adopted by all of the Warsaw Pact armies and saw action with communist forces in both Korea and Vietnam.[5]

However, the KS-19 gun has largely been phased out of front line arsenals due to the increased use of more effective surface-to-air missiles.[3] As a result, it is no longer a commonly used weapon in modern warfare.[3]

Iraq

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It was estimated that Iraq had 200 guns in service prior to 1990,[6] around Baghdad alone from 1980 until 2003. During the Gulf War and 2003 invasion of Iraq, the anti-aircraft guns and tactics used by the Iraqis proved to be obsolete in face of the coalition use of electronic warfare and precision munitions capable of striking targets outside of AA gun range.[7]

Russo-Ukrainian War

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At the beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, a number of KS-19 guns were stored in Balakliia.[8] However, the city was captured by Russian forces on March 3 and it is believed that the Russians may have used some of the guns as decoys.[8] During the Kharkiv counteroffensive in 2022, Ukraine regained control of Balakliia on September 10.[9]

As of April 1, 2023, it has been reported that Ukraine is using some of the KS-19 guns that were stored in Balakliia for indirect fire against ground targets, and possibly for direct fire as well.[10] One advantage of using these guns as artillery is that they fire older ammunition that is not commonly used by other Ukrainian artillery.[10] In fact, one of the Soviet UOF-412 rounds that was seen in use had been manufactured as far back as 1962.[11]

Variants

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Soviet Union

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  • KS-19 − Original production model introduced in 1948 on KZU-16 carriage.[citation needed]
  • KS-19M − Updated model introduced in 1951. The grooves in the barrel were broadened to reduce the projectile's friction and reduce barrel wear.[citation needed]
  • KS-19M2 − Final production model introduced in 1955. Features the heavier and more stable KZU-28 carriage, which is easier to set up as well.[citation needed] Produced until 1957[1]
  • KSM-65 − Late modification, produced in some Soviet state factories until 1957[1]

China

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Chinese Type 59 anti aircraft gun, license produced KS-19 in Jianchuan Museum.
  • Type 59 − Chinese production model.

Iran

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  • Sa'eer − Iranian upgrade of either Soviet KS-19 or Chinese Type 59 with automatic targeting and reloading system revealed to the public in November 2011. Since then also observed in use in Iraq mounted on a truck.[citation needed]

Self-propelled guns

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According to photographic evidence, Hezbollah has developed improvised mounts based on a 2P25 tracked chassis and a truck chassis.[12] Similarly, the Ukrainian Territorial Defence Forces also made use of improvised truck mounted guns in the indirect fire support role during the Russian invasion of Ukraine.[13][14]

Surviving Examples

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Operators

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Current

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Former

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Non-state

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References

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  1. ^ a b c "100 mm automatic anti-aircraft gun AZP KS-19". National Defence University of Ukraine. Kyiv. Retrieved 31 October 2025.
  2. ^ O'Halloran & Foss 2002, pp. 222−223.
  3. ^ a b c "KS-19". Weaponsystems.net. Retrieved 2023-04-01.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g Bishop C and Drury I. The Encyclopedia of World Military Power (1988). Temple Press/Aerospace publishing.
  5. ^ a b c d e f Identification Guide, vol. II, Headquarters United States Army, Europe and Seventh Army, 1973, p. 225
  6. ^ a b c d e O'Halloran & Foss 2002, p. 223.
  7. ^ Schuster 2010, pp. 112, 114.
  8. ^ a b "Many Ukrainian KS-19 were stored in Balakliya". Twitter. 2023-04-02. Retrieved 2023-04-02.
  9. ^ Koshiw, Isobel; Tondo, Lorenzo; Mazhulin, Artem (2022-09-10). "Ukraine's southern offensive 'was designed to trick Russia'". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2023-04-02.
  10. ^ a b c "The Ukrainian army started to use ancient KS-19 100mm anti-aircraft guns". Twitter. April 1, 2023. Retrieved 2023-04-01.
  11. ^ "We can see Soviet UOF-412 rounds with OF-412 projectiles". Twitter. April 1, 2023. Retrieved 2023-04-02.
  12. ^ a b Chipman, John, ed. (2019). Iran's Networks of Influence in the Middle East. London, UK: International Institute for Strategic Studies. p. 58. ISBN 978-0-86079-218-5.
  13. ^ Axe, David. "Ukraine's Latest Mobile Howitzer Is A Soviet Anti-Aircraft Gun From The 1940s Bolted To A Modern Czech Cargo Truck". Forbes. Retrieved 2024-01-10.
  14. ^ Ukraine - XX.08.2023. KS-19 AA Guns Mounted On A Trucks In Use By Soldiers Of The 111th TDF Brigade., 15 September 2023, retrieved 2024-01-10
  15. ^ "Kəlbəcərdə artilleriya qurğuları və sursat aşkarlandı - Fotolar". 30 March 2024.
  16. ^ a b International Institute for Strategic Studies (2022). The military balance. 2022. Abingdon, Oxon. ISBN 978-1032279008.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  17. ^ International Institute for Strategic Studies (2021). The Military Balance. Taylor & Francis. p. 470. ISBN 9781032012278.
  18. ^ Iran produces smart 100mm anti-aircraft gun – YouTube
  19. ^ IISS 2007, p.236
  20. ^ International Institute for Strategic Studies (15 February 2023). The Military Balance 2023 (1st ed.). Routledge. ISBN 978-1032508955.
  21. ^ Galeotti, Mark (2021). Storm-333: KGB and Spetsnaz seize Kabul, Soviet-Afghan War 1979. Raid (ePDF ed.). Oxford, UK: Bloomsbury Publishing. p. 55. ISBN 9781472841858.
  22. ^ a b c d International Institute for Strategic Studies (14 February 2018). The Military Balance. 2018. Routledge. ISBN 978-1857439557.
  23. ^ a b c d e "SIPRI Arms Transfers Database". SIPRI. Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. Retrieved 1 November 2025.
  24. ^ Schuster 2010, p. 113.
  25. ^ International Institute for Strategic Studies (5 February 2008). The Military Balance. 2008. Routledge. ISBN 978-1857434613.
  26. ^ a b Institute for Strategic Studies (1989). The military balance, 1989-1990. London: Brassey's. ISBN 978-0080375694.
  27. ^ Mitzer, Stijin; Oliemans, Joost. "Documenting Equipment Losses During The September 2023 Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict". Oryx. Archived from the original on 19 April 2024.
  28. ^ Mitzer, Stijn; Oliemans, Joost (25 November 2022). "The Struggle For Relevance: Transnistria's Fighting Vehicles". Oryx. Retrieved 31 October 2025.

Bibliography

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  • Media related to 100-mm air defense gun model 1947 (KS-19) at Wikimedia Commons