The Machine-Building Design Bureau (KBM,
part of Rostec state business) is updating the Khrizantema missile, according
to General Designer at KBM Valery Kashin.
He stated, "The Khrizantema missile is
being updated." According to Kashin, there are presently no plans to improve
the previous generation of anti-tank missiles, the 9M120 Ataka.
The 9M123M Khrizantema anti-tank missile is
part of the Khrizantema-S self-propelled anti-tank missile system's arsenal. It
is also compatible with the newest combat helicopters, namely the Mil Mi-28NM
and Kamov Ka-52M.
Khrizantema was designed to deal with
current and future generations of main battle tanks and can also engage slow
and low flying aerial targets like helicopters. The ATGM was unveiled in July 1996 by the
Konstruktorskoye Byuro Mashynostroyenia (KB Mashinostroyeniya - KBM)
Engineering Design Bureau. The missile was designed to defeat current and
future armoured units equipped with advanced armour protection, such as
Explosive Reactive Armour (ERA).