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9K135 Kornet


NATO: AT-14 Spriggan


Overview

9K133 Kornet

9K133 Kornet in firing position.
Source: KBP Tula - © copyright lies with original owner

Origin
Russia
Type
Man portable anti-tank missile
Entered service
1998
Status
In service
Development
1988 - 1998
Developer
Soviet Union - KBP Instrument Design Bureau
Russia - KBP Instrument Design Bureau
Production
1998 - present
Producer
Russia - ZiD (missile)
Russia - Volsk mechanical plant (launcher)
Iran
Saudi Arabia
Number produced
35.000 missiles by 2009
Designations
AT-14 Spriggan (NATO reporting name)
9K135 (GRAU index for system)
9M133 (GRAU index for missile)
9P163 (GRAU index for launch post)
Kornet-E (export model)
Dehlavie (Iranian production)
Notable users
Russia
Greece
India
Jordan
Syria

Description

Introduction

The 9K135 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 always intended as a supplementary system, not a system to replace all existing systems in use.

Design

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, with the laser beam sensor is located at the rear in order to function. Also the warhead is located behind the rocket fuel. This has the advantage of allowing more time for the precursor charge in the nose to detonate explosive reactive armor. A downside is that having more components between the plasma jet and the target. Occasionally 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.

Portability

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 mounts

Vehicle mounted Kornet systems can be divided into two categories. Many light vehicles use a pedestal mounted manpack launcher. Often these launchers can also be used away from the vehicle. Dedicated tank destroyers using the Kornet missile have been developed on wheeled and tracked vehicles. These vehicles either have multiple missiles ready to fire or use an automated reloading system. Furthermore, these dedicated tank destroyer vehicles feature better sight units, allowing them to engage targets at longer range, especially at night.

Users

The Kornet has been in Russian use since the late 1990's, but not in large numbers until the 2010's. 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.

Variants

9M133 missile

9M133 missile alongside its launch container.
Source: www.alternathistory.org.ua - © copyright lies with original owner

Kornet / Kornet-E missiles

9M133
Early anti-tank missile with tandem HEAT warhead as introduced in the late 1990's. Maximum range is listed as 5.0 km versus the 5.5 km of other Kornet missiles.
9M133-1
Improved production model of the 9M133. Possibly introduced in the 2000's. Most numerous version of the Kornet.
9M133F
Early missile type with thermobaric warhead. Intended for use against infantry in the open and emplaced weapons.
9M133F-1
Thermobaric warhead of the 9M133F used on the improved 9M133-1 missile.

Kornet-D / Kornet-EM missiles

9M133M-2
Long range variant of the Kornet with improved tandem HEAT warhead. Maximum range is increased to 8.0 km.
9M133FM-2
Variant of the 9M133M-2 missile with thermobaric warhead. Intended for use against infantry positions.
9M133FM-3
Variant of the 9M133M-2 missile with lighter HE-Frag warhead in exchange for longer 10 km range. The HE-Frag warhead is also suitable for use against light armored vehicles, whereas the thermobaric variants are less useful.

Details

Facts 9M133 9M133-1 9M133F-1 9M133M-2 9M133FM-2 9M133FM-3
General
Origin
Russia
Type
Anti-tank missile
Dimensions
Weight
29 kg including launch container
Diameter
0.16 m
Wingspan
0.46 m
Length
1.1 m missile
1.21 m launch container
Guidance
Method
Laser beam riding
Operating mode
SACLOS
Accuracy
<5 meter
Warhead
Type
Tandem HEAT
Diameter
152 mm main charge
Penetration
1.000 mm RHA behind ERA
Propulsion
Engine
Single-stage solid propellant rocket motor
Range
5.0 km maximum
100 m minimum
Max speed
Over 250 m/s
Altitude
Up to 3 km

Launch platforms

9P163-1

Manpack launcher for infantry use. Consists of a tripod, 1PN79-1 thermal sight unit and associated 1PN45-1 optical tracker and guidance computer. A single missile tube is mounted on top of the launcher.

Pedestal mount

A wide range of light vehicles has been fitted with the 9P163 manpack launcher on a pedestal mount.

BMP-2M

The BMP-2M is an upgrade package of the BMP-2 mechanized infantry combat vehicle. The Berezhok turret is fitted with two Kornet missiles on either side of the turret.

Read more about BMP-2M

Media

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9K113 Konkurs

The 9K135 Kornet was developed as a more capable replacement for earlier wire guided anti-tank missiles such as the Konkurs.

Read more about 9K113 Konkurs