Ukraine's defense bolstered by American vehicles against Russian tank hunters
In the Avdiivka area, the 47th Mechanized Brigade "Magura" stands as a pillar of Ukrainian defence. This brigade is equipped with an impressive array of American combat vehicles. To counteract these vehicles, the Russians have formed specialized "tank hunter" groups, armed with the 9M133 Kornet anti-tank guided missiles. Let's delve into the capabilities of this formidable weapon.
12:51 PM EDT, March 31, 2024
Defending the Avdiivka zone, the "Magura" brigade is distinguished by its arsenal of American military hardware. This includes M1A1SA Abrams tanks, M2 Bradley infantry fighting vehicles, as well as M88 Hercules repair vehicles and M1150 assault breachers.
Engaged in intense combat, this equipment has shown its efficiency and sophisticated design, offering crews substantial protection and excellent survival prospects upon impact.
According to Defence 24, the Russian forces are deploying a variety of methods to take down the American gear, including artillery and FPV drones, and notably, patrols wielding 9M133 Kornet anti-tank guided missiles.
Countering Abrams with Kornets
The Kornet stands as one of Russia's most potent anti-tank weapons, with development spanning the 1980s and concluding before the turn of the century. The missile measures 3.9 feet in length, with a diameter of 5.9 inches and a weight of 59.5 pounds; it carries a 10.1-pound warhead. Its range varies between 3.4 to 6.8 miles, depending on the version.
Capable of breaching armour up to 4.3 feet thick when expressed in RHA (a metric for comparing armour thickness) or penetrating over 9.8 feet of reinforced concrete, the Kornet can destroy any Western tank on impact.
However, achieving a hit requires the operator to maintain visual contact with the target from the moment of launch until impact, which leaves the user vulnerable to enemy return fire.
The Kornet first saw combat in Iraq before being used in Syria and Turkey. In the context of Ukraine, it has contributed to the attrition of Western main battle tanks supplied to Ukrainian forces.
Its confirmed targets include the Leopard 2 tanks, Stridsvagn 122 (the Swedish edition of the Leopard 2A5), Challenger 2 tanks, and – potentially – at least one of the five compromised Abrams units.
