Original Item: Only One Available. This is a nice totally inert non-firing BATF compliant Soviet 9K32 Strela-2 SA-7 Grail Inert Launch Tube, issued for use during the Soviet-Afghan war, which lasted throughout most of the 1980s. It has correctly had a bore width hole drilled through the left side side, and has a bolt and bolt installed across the bottom and welded together to prevent loading. It is now totally inert and incapable of firing, which makes it 100% legal to own without a license of any kind. As with deactivated ordnance it is NOT AVAILABLE FOR EXPORT.

The 9K32 Strela-2 (NATO reporting name SA-7 Grail) is a light-weight, shoulder-fired, surface-to-air missile or MANPADS system. It is designed to target aircraft at low altitudes with passive infrared-homing guidance and destroy them with a high-explosive warhead. The Strela-2 was a staple of the Cold War and was produced in huge numbers for the Soviet Union and their allies, as well as revolutionary movements. Though since surpassed by more modern systems, the Strela and its variants remain in service in many countries, and have seen use in nearly every regional conflict since 1972.

This is a lovely deactivated example of a launch tube for the 9K32 Strela-2 launch tube, one of several components that make up the weapon system. It also utilized a detachable thermal battery on the front, as well as a detachable grip stock / firing mechanism, which contained the electronics that helped guide the rocket. The launch tubes were not reloadable in the field, and were delivered loaded, after which they would be sent back to arsenal. The grip and battery were used with multiple different launch tubes utilizing a quick release system and electronics connectors. Measures about 57 3/4 inches long.

The launch tube is in very good condition, with the original flip out sights still present. A very hard to find item from the late cold war!

The end of World War II led to a major shift in Soviet defence policy. The advent of long range, high altitude, nuclear-armed American bombers, capable of penetrating Soviet airspace at heights and speeds unreachable and unmatchable by anti-aircraft guns and most interceptors, appeared to render every conventional weapon obsolete at a stroke. Numerous long-range, high-altitude SAM systems, such as the S-25 Berkut and S-75 Dvina, were rapidly developed and fielded to counter this large vulnerability. Due to the apparent obsolescence of conventional arms, however, relatively little development took place to field mobile battlefield air defences.

This direction was soon changed with the beginning of the Korean War. An entirely conventional conflict, it proved that nuclear weapons were not the be-all and end-all of warfare. In the face of a powerful and modern American air force, carrying non-nuclear payloads, the Soviet Union invested heavily in a multi-tier air defence system, consisting of several new mobile SAMs, to cover all altitude ranges and protect ground forces.

Both Strela-1 and Strela-2 were initially intended to be man-portable systems. As the Strela-2 proved to be a considerably smaller and lighter package, however, the role of the Strela-1 was changed, becoming a heavier, vehicle-mounted system with increased range and performance to better support the ZSU-23-4 in the regimental air defense role.

SA-7a components. It is best distinguished by the squarish gripstock.
As development began in the Turopov OKB (later changed to Kolomna), detailed information on the design of the US FIM-43 Redeye became available. While it was not a reverse-engineered copy, in many ways the Strela design borrowed heavily from the Redeye, which had started development a few years earlier. Due to the comparatively primitive Soviet technical base, development was protracted, and many problems arose, especially in designing a sufficiently small seeker head and rocket. Eventually, the designers settled for a simpler seeker head than that of the Redeye, allowing the initial version, the 9K32 "Strela-2" (US DoD designation SA-7A, missile round 9M32) to finally enter service in 1968, five years behind schedule. At the time, it was described by one expert as being "the premier Russian export line".

Totally inert, cannot be converted to an explosive device, not available for export. This item is completely legal within the USA. International Military Antiques, Inc observes all Federal, State and Local laws. Everything for sale on ima-usa.com is completely legal to own, trade, transport and sell within the United States of America.

All deactivated ordnance sold by IMA, Inc is engineered to be inoperable according to guidelines provided by the US Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (BATF).