Kornet (anti-tank guided missile)

Kornet (anti-tank guided missile) is a modern Russian man-portable anti-tank guided missile system designed for long-range engagement of armored vehicles and fortified positions. Developed by the KBP Instrument Design Bureau in Tula, Russia, it entered service with the Russian Armed Forces in the late 1990s. The system is renowned for its tandem-charge HEAT warhead capable of defeating explosive reactive armor and its laser beam riding guidance.

Development and history

The Kornet's development began in the late 1980s at the KBP Instrument Design Bureau as a successor to earlier systems like the 9K111 Fagot. The project aimed to create a weapon with greater range and lethality against modern NATO armor, particularly vehicles equipped with advanced Chobham armour. Following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, work continued under the Russian Federation, with the system being officially adopted after state trials in 1994. Its first public unveiling was at the IDEX exhibition in Abu Dhabi in 1995, signaling its intent for the export market. The system's design reflects lessons learned from conflicts like the First Chechen War, where the need for a robust, long-range infantry anti-tank capability was emphasized.

Design and variants

The Kornet is a tripod-mounted, crew-portable system using a SACLOS laser beam riding guidance method, where the operator keeps the sight on the target until impact. The missile is sealed in a disposable launch tube, which is attached to a reusable 1P45M-1 or 1PN79-1 sighting unit featuring integrated thermal imaging for night and adverse weather combat. Primary variants include the baseline **Kornet-E** export model with a 5.5 km range, and the enhanced **Kornet-EM** with an increased range of 8-10 km and improved countermeasures resistance. Warhead options are a tandem-charge HEAT round for armored targets and a thermobaric warhead for structures and personnel. The system has also been integrated onto various vehicles, such as the BMP-3 in the 9P163M-1 Kornet-T configuration and the Tiger (Russian military vehicle).

Operational history

The Kornet has seen extensive combat use by the Russian Armed Forces, notably during the Second Chechen War and the Russo-Georgian War. It has been widely exported and used by other state and non-state actors in multiple conflicts across the Middle East. Syrian government forces employed it extensively during the Syrian Civil War against Free Syrian Army and Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant positions. Hezbollah reportedly used Kornets against Israel Defense Forces Merkava tanks during the 2006 Lebanon War. In the War in Donbas, separatist forces were supplied with the system, and it has been a frequent weapon in the Russian invasion of Ukraine, used by both sides to engage main battle tanks like the T-90 and Leopard 2.

Operators

The Kornet is operated by numerous national militaries worldwide. Major operators include the Russian Armed Forces, the Algerian People's National Army, the Indian Army, and the Syrian Arab Army. Other significant users are the Egyptian Army, the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps, the Turkish Land Forces, and the United Arab Emirates Army. The system has also been acquired by nations such as Jordan, Kuwait, Peru, and Venezuela. Non-state actors like Hezbollah have acquired them through regional proxies, complicating non-proliferation efforts.

Specifications

The Kornet-E missile in its launch tube weighs approximately 27 kg, with the complete tripod-mounted system weighing about 67 kg. The missile is 1.2 meters long with a diameter of 152 mm. It is propelled by a solid-fuel rocket motor to a speed of 250 m/s. The export variant has a effective engagement range of 100 meters to 5.5 kilometers. The advanced Kornet-EM variant extends this to 8-10 km. The primary HEAT warhead contains 7 kg of explosive in a tandem-charge configuration, capable of penetrating up to 1,100–1,300 mm of RHA behind explosive reactive armor. The alternative thermobaric warhead is effective against fortifications and soft targets. The system's sight incorporates a laser rangefinder and thermal imaging with recognition ranges exceeding 5 km.

Category:Anti-tank guided missiles of Russia Category:Man-portable anti-tank guided missiles