Anti-tank guided missile complex ATGM Cornet

Anti-tank guided missile systems (ATGM) is the most common and popular type of precision weapons at the present time. Appearing at the end of the Second World War, soon these weapons became one of the most effective means of defeating tanks and other types of armored vehicles.

Modern ATGMs are complex, universal defensive-assault complexes, which have long been no longer solely a means of defeating tanks. Today, these weapons are used to solve a wide range of tasks, including the fight against enemy fire points, its fortifications, manpower and even low-flying air targets. Due to its versatility and high mobility, anti-tank guided complexes have now become one of the main means of fire support for infantry units both in the offensive and in the defense.

ATGM is one of the fastest growing segments of the global arms market, these weapons are produced in huge batches. For example, more than 700 thousand American TOW of TOW of various modifications were produced.

One of the most advanced Russian models of such weapons is the Kornet anti-tank complex.

Anti-generation

The Germans were still the first to develop anti-tank guided missiles (ATGM) in the middle of World War II. The company Ruhrstahl by 1945 was able to produce several hundred units of PTKR Rotkappchen ("Little Red Riding Hood").

After the end of the war, this weapon fell into the hands of the Allies, it became the basis for developing their own anti-tank systems. In the 50s, French engineers managed to create two successful missile systems: SS-10 and SS-11.

Only a few years later, Soviet designers engaged in the development of anti-tank missiles, but already one of the first models of Soviet ATGM became the undoubted bestseller in the world. Missile complex "Baby" was very simple and very effective. With the help of the Arab-Israeli war, in a few weeks, up to 800 armored vehicles were destroyed (Soviet data).

All of the above ATGMs belonged to the weapons of the first generation, the rocket control in them was carried out by wires, the speed of its flight was low, and the armor penetration rate was low. But the worst thing was different: the operator had to control the rocket throughout its flight, which led to high requirements for its qualification.

In the second generation of ATGM, this problem was partially solved: the complexes received semi-automatic guidance, and the speed of the missile’s flight was significantly increased. The operator of these anti-tank missile systems was enough to point their weapons at the target, fire a shot and hold the object in the crosshair of the reticle until the missile hit. Its management was taken over by a computer, which was part of the missile complex.

The second generation of this weapon includes the Soviet ATGM "Fagot", "Competition", "Metis", the American TOW and Dragon, the European complex Milan and many others. Today, the vast majority of samples of these weapons, which are in service with various armies in the world, belong to the second generation.

Since the beginning of the 80s, the development of the next, third-generation ATGM has begun in different countries. The most advanced in this direction are the Americans.

A few words should be said about the concept of creating a new weapon. This is important, because the approaches of the Soviet and Western designers are very different.

In the West, began to develop anti-tank missile systems, operating on the principle of "shot and forget" (Fire and Forget). The task of the operator is to direct the missile at the target, wait for its capture by the homing missile (GOS), shoot and quickly leave the launch site. The "smart" rocket will do the rest itself.

An example of ATGM, which works on this principle, is the American complex Javelin. The missile of this complex is equipped with a thermal homing head, which reacts to the heat generated by the power plant of a tank or other armored vehicles. There is one more advantage enjoyed by an ATGM of a similar design: they can hit tanks in the upper, most unprotected projection.

However, besides indisputable advantages, such systems have serious disadvantages. The main one is the high cost of the rocket. In addition, a rocket with an infrared GOS cannot hit the bunker or enemy firing points, the range of use of such a complex is limited, the operation of a rocket with a similar GOS is not very reliable. It is able to hit only armored vehicles with the engine turned on, which has a good thermal contrast with the surrounding terrain.

In the USSR, they went a little different way, they usually describe it with a slogan: "I see and shoot." It is on this principle that the latest Russian Kornet ATGM system operates.

After the shot, the missile is aimed at the target and is kept on the path by using a laser beam. At the same time, the photodetector of the rocket is facing the launcher, which ensures high noise immunity of the Kornet missile system. In addition, this ATGM is equipped with a thermal sight, which allows it to fire at any time of the day.

This method of guidance seems to be an anachronism in comparison with foreign third-generation anti-tank systems, but it has a number of significant advantages.

Description of the complex

Already in the mid-80s, it became clear that the second-generation anti-tank systems, the Konkurs, despite numerous modifications, no longer meet modern requirements. First of all, it concerned noise immunity and armor penetration.

In 1988, the development of a new Kornet ATGM began in the Tula Instrument Design Bureau, and for the first time this complex was demonstrated to the general public in 1994.

The Cornet was designed as a universal fire weapon for the ground forces.

ATGM "Cornet" is able not only to cope with the latest models of dynamic protection of armored vehicles, but even attack low-flying aerial targets. In addition to the cumulative warhead (warhead), the thermobaric part of the high-explosive action, which is perfect for destroying the enemy firing points and his manpower, can be installed on the rocket.

The Kornet complex consists of the following components:

• launcher: it can be portable or installed on various media;
• guided missile (ATGM) with different range and various types of warheads.

The portable version of the Cornet consists of a 9P163M-1 launcher, which is a tripod, a 1P45M-1 aiming sight instrument and a trigger mechanism.

The height of the launcher can be adjusted, which allows firing from different positions: lying, sitting, from cover.

On the ATGM can be installed thermal imaging sight, it consists of an optical-electronic unit, control devices and a cooling system.

The mass of the launcher is 25 kilograms, it is easily installed on any mobile media.

ATGM "Kornet" produces an attack of the frontal projection of armored vehicles, using a semi-automatic guidance system and the use of a laser beam. The task of the operator is to detect the target, aiming at it the reticle, firing a shot and keeping the target in sight before hitting it.

The Kornet complex is reliably protected from the action of active and passive interference, the protection is realized by directing the photodetector of the rocket towards the launcher.

The anti-tank guided missile (ATGM), which is part of the Kornet complex, is made according to the "duck" scheme. Drop-down rudders are located in the front of the rocket, there is also their drive, as well as the leading charge of the tandem cumulative warhead.

The engine with two nozzles is located in the middle of the rocket, followed by the main charge of the cumulative warhead. In the back of the rocket is a control system, including a laser receiver. Also located at the rear and four folding wings.

The ATGM together with the expelling charge is placed in a disposable sealed plastic container.

There is a modification of this complex - Kornet-D ATGM, which provides armor penetration of up to 1300 mm and a firing range of up to 10 km.

The advantages of ATGM "Cornet"

Many experts (especially foreign ones) do not consider the Cornet to be a third-generation complex, since the principle of missile homing on the target is not implemented in it. However, this weapon has many advantages not only over the outdated second-generation anti-tank systems, but also over the latest Javelin-type complexes. Here are the main ones:

• universality: “Kornet” can be used both against armored vehicles and against firing points and field reinforcement of the enemy;
• convenience of shooting from unprepared positions from different positions: "lying", "from the knee", "in the trench";
  possibility of use at any time of the day;
• high noise immunity;
• the possibility of using a wide range of media;
• salvo firing two missiles;
• long firing range (up to 10 km);
• high armor penetration missiles, which allows the ATGM to successfully deal with almost all types of modern tanks.

The main advantage of the Kornet ATGM is its cost, it is about three times lower than that of the missiles with a homing head.

Combat use complex

The first serious conflict in which the Kornet complex was used was the war in Lebanon in 2006. The Hezbollah group actively used this anti-tank system, which practically frustrated the offensive of the Israeli army. According to the Israelis, 46 Merkava tanks were damaged during the fighting. Although, not all of them were hit precisely from “Kornet”. Hezbollah received these anti-tank systems through Syria.

According to the Islamists, the loss of Israel was actually much greater.

In 2011, Hezbollah used the Cornet to attack the Israeli school bus.

During the civil war in Syria, many of these weapons from looted government arsenals fell into the hands of both moderate opposition and ISIS (an organization banned in the Russian Federation).

A large number of American-made armored vehicles, which are in service with the Iraqi army, were shot down precisely from the Kornet anti-tank systems. There is documentary evidence of the destruction of one American Abrams tank.

During Operation Unbreakable Rock, most of the anti-tank missiles fired at Israeli tanks were various modifications of the Cornet. All of them were intercepted by Trophy’s active tank defense. The Israelis took several complexes as trophies.

In Yemen, the Houthis have been very successful in using this ATGM against armored vehicles of Saudi Arabia.

Specifications

Video about ATGM Cornet

Watch the video: Russian Kornet Anti-Tank Missile: World's Most Powerful Anti-Tank Missile - Míssil Anti-Tanque (November 2024).