Russo-Ukrainian War: The Corsair ATGM

Source: Deccan Herald

     A Ukrainian anti-tank team on the practice range with a “Корсар” (“Corsair”) anti-tank guided missile system. In some publications, the entire system is designated the RK-3 “Корсар” based on the nomenclature of the missiles. Speaking of such, the 107mm missile leaving the tube is a РК–3ОФ (RK-3OF) HE-FRAG (High-Explosive Fragmentation) munition, one of three missile types the Корсар is able to fire. The other two are the РК–3К (RK-3K) tandem-warhead AT (Anti-Tank) missile and РК–3И (RK-3I) inert warhead practice missile. The Корсар isn't a new system with State Design Bureau “Luch” out of Kyiv, Ukraine having commenced development in 2013. After trials, the first 50 examples of the Корсар were delivered to the Ukrainian Army in 2017. In 2018, testing with the Корсар was done using a thermal imaging camera and the final version, shown in this photograph, was accepted for service in 2020.

     The Корсар is designed to be lightweight portable missile system to facilitate not only lessen the burden of infantrymen who have to “hump” the Корсар around the battlefield but also to utilize the missile system on armored vehicles without adding unnecessary weight to the overall vehicle. The SPU-3 tripod, with the thermal imager, weighs 26 pounds while the PN-KU guidance system with the launch rail weighs 18 pounds. The average missile weight is 34 pounds. The typical Корсар crew is 2 men. The Корсар breaks down into four components: the SPU-3, the thermal imager, the PN-KU, and the launch rail. These components can be carried in nylon/water resistant backpacks while the PN-KU and thermal sight are carried in a plastic, impact resistant dry box carry case.

     The Корсар's missiles utilize SALG (Semi-Automatic Laser Guidance). SALG works by “painting” the target with a laser beam but the missile's seeker doesn't “ride” the beam towards the target. Instead, it picks up the reflected laser energy and aligns itself towards the strongest reflection. SALG is not as robust as true laser beam guidance and targets using HR (Highly Reflective) paint can affect the laser's energy reflection strength while smoke can also interfere with the laser. In addition, laser warning systems can pick up SALG laser designators. The PN-KU does utilize a low power laser to reduce the detectability by laser warning systems. Where SALG excels is in low cost, the ability to lock onto other types of laser designators (manufacturer agnostic), and the ability for the Корсар system to shift positions after launch. The latter is important given the launch signature of the Корсар which would betray the anti-tank team's location and that the operator needs to keep the target “painted” until the the missile hits. The ability to move to another location and reacquire the target without the missile instantly going out of control during the few seconds the guidance stops, even if only a few feet from the initial launch point, can increase team survivability against retaliatory fire. In regards to the backblast, injury would result to anyone within a 30 degree cone from the rear of the launch tube, out to a distance of 32 feet.

     The RK-3OF is meant to engage emplacements, soft targets, buildings, and bunkers out to a range of 1.5 miles. The thermal imager permits night engagements out to a range of 1 mile in addition to aiding in target identification. The missile is also equipped with a shock core which is a shaped charge that lets it more easily penetrate hardened fortifications made from concrete and other similar materials. The missile can also drill through 50mm of RHA (Rolled Homogeneous Armor) which makes the Корсар lethal to many IFVs (Infantry Fighting Vehicles), APCs (Armored Personnel Carriers), and IMVs (Infantry Mobility Vehicles). However, against tanks, the RK-3OF would struggle. As such, the RK-3K missile would be used to engage tanks as the missile can penetrate 550mm of RHA armor after ERA (Explosive Reactive Armor).

Russo-Ukrainian War: The FGM-148 Javelin

Source: General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

     The ATGM (Anti-Tank Guided Missile) shown here in the hands of a soldier of the 5th. Detachment, Special Operations Center “Omega” was an absolute game changer during the opening months of the Russo-Ukrainian War which commenced on February 24, 2022. The weapon? The FGM-148 Javelin. The effectiveness was so great that it spawned the image of “Saint Javelin” (the Virgin Mary cradling a Javelin) and saw Russian tanks sprout the so-called “cope cages” (raised slat armor over the turret top) in a vain attempt to deal with the missile. Ukraine had received over 8,000 Javelin systems by February 2023 with the majority being delivered by the United States. The FGM-148 entered service with the U.S. military in 1996 and was the replacement for the M47 Dragon ATGM.

     What makes the Javelin effective is two-fold. The first is that the missile is capable of using what is called a “top attack” engagement profile. This means the missile strikes the target from above. On most tanks, the armor thickness of the top of the hull (front and rear) as well as the top of the turret is thin and thus relatively easy to penetrate. The second is that the Javelin is a fire-and-forget weapon. Once the gunner obtains a target lock, upon launch, the missile guides itself to the target.

     The Javelin is a two-part system. The main part, which is reusable, is the CLU (Command Launch Unit). The CLU is fitted with a day sight which provides 4X magnification but for night operation, the CLU has a 4X magnification thermal sight which is very sensitive to infrared radiation. The night sight also has a 12X magnification to enable the operator to identify the potential target. Once the target is identified and is to be engaged, the operator switches to a 9X magnification FOV (Field of View) for the missile's seeker. Here, the operator sets his aim and the target information is transmitted to the missile's guidance system. Once the operator sets the lock after depressing a launch trigger, the missile fires after a very short delay. The CLU has a weight of 14 pounds and a loaded missile tube is 35 pounds. The tube is single-shot and once fired, the CLU is detached from the spent tube and secured to a new one.

     The 127mm missile uses a solid fuel rocket motor which permits an effective range of 1.6 miles when used by a dismounted tank hunter team (usually two men) or, if the launcher is mounted on a vehicle, up to 2.95 miles of effective engagement range can be achieved. The 19 pound, contact fuzed warhead consists of a tandem-charge HEAT (High-Explosive Anti-Tank) payload. The first charge is designed to defeat ERA (Explosive Reactive Armor), permitting the second charge to strike the target's armor underneath. The Javelin is said to be capable of penetrating at least 760mm of RHA (Rolled Homogeneous Armor) after ERA. This is well able to defeat nearly all modern main battle tanks. Though the Javelin often uses its top attack ability, it can be fired directly at targets such as fortifications or if a armored vehicle is too close to permit a top attack. Maximum altitude for a top attack is 490 feet and for direct attack, 200 feet.

Russo-Ukrainian War: Ukrainian Soldiers Outside Kharkiv

 

     Ukrainian soldiers outside Kharkiv. The ATGM (Anti-Tank Guided Missile) system set up to fire down the road is the Ukrainian designed Skif (meaning "Scythian"). Using the 152mm tandem-charge HEAT (High-Explosive Anti-Tank) missile, the Skif can punch through 1,100mm of armor behind ERA (Explosive Reactive Armor) as the tandem nature of the dual warhead allows it to defeat the ERA protection and strike the main armor beneath it.

Originally posted on February 24, 2022.