Infantry weapons / Anti-tank missiles / 9K133 Kornet
9K133 Kornet
General Facts
- TYPE
Anti-tank guided weapon - ORIGIN
Russia - NICKNAMES
AT-14 Spriggan (NATO designation)
Kornet-E (export designation) - DESIGNED
1988 - 1992 - DESIGNER
KBP Tula - PRODUCTION
1994 - present - PRODUCERS
Russia - QUANTITY
Several thousand to date - UNIT COST
Unknown - CHARACTERISTICS
Good penetration and long range
Difficult to jam
Easy to use system
Heavier than other manpack ATGW
Maximum penetration often not achieved
Introduction
The 9K133 Kornet is a modern man-portable anti-tank guided weapon of Russian origin. In the West it is known under the NATO designation AT-14 Spriggan. The Kornet was developed as a more capable and longer range alternative to the late Cold War era 9K111 Fagot (AT-4 Spigot) and 9K113 Konkurs (AT-5 Spandrel) in Soviet service. Since the Kornet is heavier and more expensive it was allways intended as a supplementory system, not a system to replace all existing systems in use.
Layout
Externally the Kornet system looks similar to older Soviet manpack anti-tank guided weapons. The tripod launcher houses the sight unit and a single missile in its launch container. The 9M133 missile has an unconventional internal layout. The nose houses the guidance section, but the laser beam sensor has to be located at the rear on order to function. Also the warhead is located behind the rocket fuel. This has the advantage of allowing more time for the precursor charge to detonate explosive reactive armor, but comes at the cost of having more components between the plasma jet and the target. Occasionaly the plasma jet is deformed with much reduced penetration as a result.
Firepower
The Kornet has good penetration statistics on paper. Its tandem HEAT warhead may penetrate well over 1.000 mm RHA behind ERA. Alternatively a thermobaric warhead is available for use against structures and infantry in the open. The Kornet has a good range of 5.5 km in daylight and 3.5 to 4.5 km when using the night sight. The Kornet-M has an increased maximum range of 8 to 10 km. The subsonic missile does take about half a minute to reach its maximum range.
Mobility
The Kornet is a man portable system. The tripod launcher with a missile ready to fire weighs about 66 kg. When the load is divided over multiple people the Kornet can be carried over long distances by infantry. However, most standard operating procedures have the Kornet and its crew transported by vehicle. Vehicle mounted launchers often use a pedestal mounted manpack launcher. Various multiple round vehicle based launchers have been developed, but these are yet to be produced in quantity.
Users
The Kornet has been in Russian use since the late 1990's, but not in large numbers. It has been exported in both small and large numbers. Most export users are located in the Middle East, where it has already been used in various conflicts. The Kornet is also used by several South American and African nations.
9M133 missile
9M133-1: Standard anti-tank missile for the Kornet system. Carries a tandem HEAT warhead.
9M133M-2: Improved missile used with Kornet-M system. It has an improved tandem HEAT warhead and an improved maximum range of 8 km.
9M133F-1: Version with thermobaric warhead for use against bunkers, buildings or infantry in the open.
9M133F-2: Improved version with thermobaric warhead that is part of the Kornet-M system. Has a similar engine upgrade as used in the 9M133M-2 for an improved maximum range of 8 km.
9M133F-3: Similar to 9M133F-2, but has a smaller warhead in exchange for more fuel and a longer maximum range of 10 km.
Type | Anti-tank missile |
---|---|
Diameter | 0.16 m body, 0.46 m wingspan |
Length | 1.1 m |
Weight | 29 kg including container |
Guidance | SACLOS, laser beam riding, <5 m accuracy |
---|---|
Warhead | 152mm tandem HEAT warhead, 1.000 to 1.200 mm RHA penetration behind ERA, or 3 to 3.5 m of concrete |
Propulsion | Single-stage solid propellant rocket motor |
Speed | over 250 m/s |
Range | 100 m minimum, 5.5 km maximum |
---|---|
Altitude | Up to 3 km |
Engagement envelope | - |
Remarks | 1.21 m container length |
Type | Anti-tank missile |
---|---|
Diameter | 0.16 m body, 0.46 m wingspan |
Length | 1.1 m |
Weight | 31 kg including container |
Guidance | SACLOS, laser beam riding, <5 m accuracy |
---|---|
Warhead | 152mm tandem HEAT warhead, 1.100 to 1.300 mm RHA penetration behind ERA, or 3 to 3.5 m of concrete |
Propulsion | Single-stage solid propellant rocket motor |
Speed | 300 m/s maximum |
Range | 150 m minimum, 8.0 km maximum |
---|---|
Altitude | Up to 3 km |
Engagement envelope | - |
Remarks | 1.21 m container length |
Type | Anti-tank missile |
---|---|
Diameter | 0.16 m body, 0.46 m wingspan |
Length | 1.1 m |
Weight | 29 kg including container |
Guidance | SACLOS, laser beam riding, <5 m accuracy |
---|---|
Warhead | Thermobaric warhead |
Propulsion | Single-stage solid propellant rocket motor |
Speed | over 250 m/s |
Range | 100 m minimum, 5.5 km maximum |
---|---|
Altitude | Up to 3 km |
Engagement envelope | - |
Remarks | 1.21 m container length |
Type | Anti-tank missile |
---|---|
Diameter | 0.16 m body, 0.46 m wingspan |
Length | 1.1 m |
Weight | 31 kg including container |
Guidance | SACLOS, laser beam riding, <5 m accuracy |
---|---|
Warhead | Thermobaric warhead, 10 kg TNT equivalent |
Propulsion | Single-stage solid propellant rocket motor |
Speed | 300 m/s maximum |
Range | 150 m minimum, 8.0 km maximum |
---|---|
Altitude | Up to 3 km |
Engagement envelope | - |
Remarks | 1.21 m container length |
Type | Anti-tank missile |
---|---|
Diameter | 0.16 m body, 0.46 m wingspan |
Length | 1.1 m |
Weight | 33 kg including container |
Guidance | SACLOS, laser beam riding, <5 m accuracy |
---|---|
Warhead | Thermobaric warhead, 7 kg TNT equivalent |
Propulsion | Single-stage solid propellant rocket motor |
Speed | 320 m/s maximum |
Range | 150 m minimum, 10.0 km maximum |
---|---|
Altitude | Up to 3 km |
Engagement envelope | - |
Remarks | 1.21 m container length |
9P163 launcher
9P163-1 Kornet: Tripod manpack launcher with 1P45-1 sight tracker and 1PN79-1 thermal sight. Can also be pedestal mounted on vehicles. Export model is known as Kornet-E.
9P163M-1 Kornet-M. Tripod launcher for the longer range Kornet-M missiles. Export model is known as Kornet-EM.
9P163M-1 Kornet-T: Two round launcher fed by a 16 round internal magazine. Mounted on the BMP-3 universal chassis. Prototypes only. Also known as 9P162.
Kvartet: Small rectangular turret with two Kornet missiles on each side. Also known as 9P163-2. Fires the original Kornet missiles.
Kvartet-M: Improved Kvartet turret based on the BPPU turret, also known as 9P163-2. Has day and night sights installed in the weapon mount and two long range Kornet-M missiles on each side.
Kornet-D: Anti-tank platform with Kornet-M missiles based on the GAZ Tigr. Uses two retractable four round launchers, with an additional 8 missiles in reserve.