Ukraine's Stugna-P: The economical answer to Russian armor
The Russians continue their offensive in both the Kursk region and Ukraine, suffering significant losses in the process. Recordings of the Stugna-P anti-tank guided missile launchers, which gained popularity in 2022 and 2023, are resurfacing. Here's what this Ukrainian system can do.
6:33 PM EST, November 28, 2024
In addition to employing Western and improvised equipment, Ukrainians still utilize their own designs. Among these is the Stugna-P anti-tank guided missile. It has become less prominent in recent years due to better operational censorship by Ukrainians (fewer recordings from the front reach the public) and the depletion of pre-war stocks. It is worth noting that the production of new Stugna-P units continues but does not fully meet the demand.
The video below illustrates how a Ukrainian crew, most likely positioned in a dugout on a hill, remotely launches the missile at a Russian tank, probably from the T-72 family. The first missile hit the target, but the armor held. After reloading, another missile was fired, which penetrated and caused a catastrophic fire inside the tank.
Stugna-P - Ukraine's economical tank killer
The Stugna-P is Ukraine's principal anti-tank weapon system, introduced into service in 2011. Initially developed in collaboration with Belarus, a version based entirely on Ukrainian components was ultimately produced.
Regarding design, the Stugna-P is an older-generation system compared to more modern solutions like the FGM-148 Javelin or Akeron-MP. It requires continuous missile guidance until impact, which depends on using a laser beam.
With a missile speed of about 656 feet per second, a target 3 miles away has approximately 20 seconds to respond. During this time, the tank gunner might, for example, fire a shot from the cannon toward the launcher site.
To increase the safety of the Stugna-P system operator, remote firing of the missiles is possible. This setup includes a 164-foot cable connecting the launcher to the control panel, which is equipped with a screen, allowing for firing from a safe distance.
The system employs two main types of missiles: caliber 130 mm and the rarer 152 mm. Both types are equipped with tandem high-explosive warheads capable of overcoming reactive armor. The smaller missiles can penetrate up to 31 inches of steel armor, posing a serious threat even to modern tanks like the T-90 series, not to mention older models.
