9M133 Kornet

9M133 Kornet
Ольги Балашовой, Вадима Савицкого · CC BY 4.0 · source
Name	9M133 Kornet
Origin	Russia
Type	Anti-tank guided missile
Service	1998–present
Used by	Multiple states and non-state actors
Designer	KBP Instrument Design Bureau
Manufacturer	KBP Instrument Design Bureau
Weight	27–30 kg (missile)
Length	1200 mm
Diameter	152 mm
Range	100–5,500 m (variants)
Warhead	Tandem HEAT, thermobaric
Guidance	Laser beam riding
Speed	300–400 m/s

9M133 Kornet is a Russian-made anti-tank guided missile developed by the KBP Instrument Design Bureau and fielded in the late 1990s. It was designed to defeat modern main battle tanks and fortifications and has been exported widely, appearing in numerous regional conflicts. The system integrates a tripod- or vehicle-mounted launcher, laser-beam riding guidance, and tandem warhead options to counter explosive reactive armor and composite armor.

Development and Design

KBP Instrument Design Bureau initiated development in the early 1990s to replace older systems like the AT-3 Sagger and complement projects such as the 9K115-2 Metis-M. The design incorporates a laser beam-riding guidance derived from research at Tula design centers and parallels developments in NATO missile concepts and Soviet-era projects. Engineers focused on defeating reactive armor technologies first used on T-80 and Merkava platforms and integrating tandem-charge warheads similar in role to the ones on the BGM-71 TOW family. The launcher architecture allows tripod emplacement, mounting on vehicles such as the BMP-3 or BTR-82, and integration with reconnaissance assets like the Orlan-10 unmanned aerial vehicle for target acquisition. Development included cooperation with industrial entities across Soviet Union successor states and manufacturers supplying rocket motors and optics.

Specifications and Variants

Standard missile dimensions and mass support portability for infantry units and integration on light armored vehicles including variants adapted for the T-90 chassis and truck-mounted systems. Key variants include the baseline version with a range of about 5,500 meters, long-range versions with extended motors and improved launchers, and specialized warhead types including tandem HEAT and thermobaric warheads aimed at fortifications and personnel in enclosed spaces. Vehicle-mounted variants include turreted systems and versions integrated on platforms such as the Ural utility truck and the Tigr armored car. Modernized kiosks add improved day/night sights, laser designators, and compatibility with command-and-control networks used by formations like those in Russian Ground Forces and several export clients.

Operational History

The system entered service in 1998 and was observed in training and exercises involving units associated with the Russian Armed Forces and export customers. It was exported under deals involving state-to-state agreements with countries across Asia, Africa, and the Middle East, appearing in parades and live-fire demonstrations reminiscent of exercises with platforms like the S-300 integrated air defenses. Kornet-equipped units took part in operations and deployments mirroring Cold War-era combined arms maneuvers, with documented presence in conflicts alongside forces from nations such as Syria, Iraq, and Azerbaijan.

Combat Use and Effectiveness

Combat reports from engagements in theaters including Chechnya, the Syrian Civil War, the Iraq War, and clashes in Nagorno-Karabakh attribute numerous tank and armored vehicle losses to Kornet-class systems. Combatant footage and battlefield analyses compared its performance against armor on Leopard 2, M1 Abrams, and T-72 series vehicles. Fielded tandem warheads were specifically employed to defeat reactive armor fitted to these platforms. Assessments by military analysts from institutions like think tanks tracking Middle East conflicts highlighted both tactical successes and limitations such as susceptibility to active protection systems fielded on modern main battle tanks.

Operators and Deployment

State operators include a range of countries in Eurasia, Africa, and the Middle East, acquired through bilateral sales, licensed production, or capture on the battlefield. Non-state actors and irregular forces have also used captured or clandestinely supplied examples during insurgencies and proxy wars that intersect with geopolitics involving actors such as Iran, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey. Deployment patterns feature use on light vehicles, entrenched ambush positions, and mounted on improvised platforms in urban and rural combat environments reminiscent of tactics seen in asymmetric conflicts.

Countermeasures and Survivability

Countermeasure developments focus on active protection systems (APS) such as those fielded on Merkava, T-90, and Leopard 2A7 platforms, which detect and intercept incoming guided munitions. Electronic warfare suites, smoke screens, and combined-arms maneuver doctrines are emphasized by militaries to mitigate Kornet threats, reflecting doctrinal lessons from engagements studied by institutions like NATO and regional defense ministries. Improvements in armor composition and modular reactive armor packages in newer vehicles aim to reduce vulnerability, while improved training and tactics seek to minimize exposure during dismounted and vehicle-borne operations.

Export and Proliferation

Export policy and proliferation trace through government-to-government sales, licensed production agreements, and battlefield captures redistributed across conflict zones, involving international actors and intermediaries. The weapon's diffusion influenced regional balances in areas such as Levant and Caucasus and prompted procurement decisions by countries evaluating anti-armor capabilities alongside systems like the Javelin and Spike families. International arms control discussions and regional security dialogues sometimes reference proliferated anti-tank guided missile systems when assessing escalation risks and military assistance programs.

Category:Anti-tank guided missiles