Missile 9K333 Verba (SA-29 Gizmo)

The 9K333 Verba (NATO reporting name SA-29 Gizmo) is a Russian fourth-generation man-portable surface-to-air missile (MANPADS) system. It was developed as a replacement for the 9K38 Igla. System testing concluded in 2011, and the Verba officially entered service in 2015.

The system utilizes the 9M336 surface-to-air missile, which is equipped with a multispectral optical seeker. This seeker employs three sensors—ultraviolet, near infrared, and mid-infrared—to discriminate between targets and decoys, reducing susceptibility to countermeasures such as blinding lasers. The system engages fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft, cruise missiles, and unmanned aerial vehicles, including targets with low infrared signatures. It can be coupled to an external identification friend or foe (IFF) unit. The containerized missile can also be integrated into ground- and sea-based short-range air defense (SHORAD) systems, as well as air platforms. As of mid-2026, the system is issued alongside the Zarnitsa thermal sighting system.

The Verba is in serial production and is deployed with Russian ground and airborne formations. In 2017, Russian forces deployed the system during the Syrian Civil War in the eastern Ghouta region near Damascus to counter unmanned aerial vehicles operated by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham. The system is also operated by Armenia. Iran has purchased the system, with deliveries scheduled to occur between 2027 and 2029.