Russia praises the 9M133 missile for the Kornet-EM anti-tank missile system (ATGM), claiming that it is capable of hitting Western Abrams and Leopard-2 tanks due to its accuracy and tandem HEAT warhead. Military expert Peter Suchiu writes about this for The National Interest.
Peter Suchiu noted that the Iraqi army used the Russian Kornet ATGM in 2003 against the US-led coalition. The missile system is "credited with destroying several pieces of American armored vehicles, including the main battle tank (MBT) M1 Abrams."
Have the Russians overestimated the significance of the 9M133 missile? Rostec has upgraded the ATGM to the Kornet-EM version. It features an increased range and a more powerful warhead.
The management of "Rostec likes to believe that the \"Kornet-EM\" does the job as well as its competitors". However, the capabilities of the complex should not be underestimated, any tank commander should remember this, Suchiu summarized.
Characteristics of the 9M133 missile:
- Firing range - up to 5000 m
- Warhead - tandem HEAT
- Armor penetration - up to 1000 mm behind explosive reactive armor
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