The enemy's threat ATGM "Konkurs-M" with ATGM 9M113M

Combat vehicle 9P148

Main article
9P148 “Competition” Launcher 9P148

Launcher body 9P148

The Konkurs ATGM is modified in relation to the basic
BRDM-2
.
The changes ensure the placement of the launcher, sighting device, as well as electric drives for their guidance and synchronization. A cutout was made in the original body roof sheet for the exit of the launch guides. The cutout is covered by a rectangular electrically operated hatch. The commander's hatch contains a 9Sh119
with the ability to quickly move roughly manually along the horizon, or smoothly track the target using an electric drive. The sight in the stowed position is closed by an armored shutter with a manual drive. In order to protect the optics, there is a “combat glass” that is opened only during combat work, also manually. A light filter is provided to protect the gunner's vision from the effects of light radiation from a nuclear explosion, laser radiation, etc. The filter drive is also manual.

Launcher 9P135

Launch guides on the roof of the 9P148 hull
Hardware part of the 9P148

made on the basis of portable installation units
9P135
placed in the housing.
Also included in the kit is a 9P56
from the portable version. Thus, it is possible to fully use the anti-tank system outside the combat vehicle, for which it is necessary to dismantle the sighting device, control equipment, remove the machine from the stack and assemble the launcher. No special tools are required for this - all blocks are secured with wing nuts, the sight is removed upward through a special hatch in its turret using a standard turret key.

In addition to standard installation blocks 9P135

, the BM “Competition” contains special blocks:

light interference indication unit (allows you to detect light interference that interferes with the semi-automatic guidance of the missile at the target);
built-in equipment for monitoring and testing starting circuits;
electromechanical guidance and synchronization drives.

The ability to test start-up circuits allows you to check the performance of the entire start-up procedure chain without actually starting up the products. Since the recoilless principle is used to launch a rocket, the launch is accompanied by the emission of a flame torch from the end of the container at approximately 10-15 m. In this regard, reliable insulation of the engine and combat compartments from the effects of flame is extremely important. Checking the start-up circuits allows you to diagnose malfunctions of the air intake protective shutter reset mechanism, breaks in the lines of the limit switches of the “travelling” locking mechanisms and the signaling for closing crew hatches and weapons.

ATGMs 9M14P1, 9M113M and 9M113 in the Tula State Museum of Weapons

Missiles of the 9M113

, 9M111 (and their modifications) are widely described in the literature. The startup process deserves a separate description. Complicated at first glance, it ensures the product is launched only after all the procedures necessary for a reliable start have been fully worked out, and excludes the product from being launched in the event of any malfunctions.

When the operator presses the “start” button, the electrical circuit of the squib of the hinged front cover of the TPK is closed, the cover opens, releasing the push rod of the squib contact of the power supply compartment (it also contains the Ш9 connector, which ensures switching of the electrical circuits of the rocket and the combat vehicle).
Under the influence of the squib pulse, the separated batteries close and supply power to the on-board network of the product. The gyro powder generator ignites. After spinning up the gyroscope to operating speed (about 10,000 rpm), the inertial contactor switches the fuse of the expelling charge.
The expelling charge ignites, pushing the product out of the TPK.
Length of TPK with rocket: 1260—1263 mm
Diameter: 135 mm
Wingspan: 468 mm
Firing range: during the day - 75-4000 m
at night - 75-3500 m
Weight of portable PU 9P135: 22 kg
Rocket launch weight: 14.5 kg (<=17 kg 9M113M[6])
Missile mass in TPK: 25.3 kg (<=27.4 kg 9M113M[6])
Weight of cumulative warhead: 2.7 kg
Average rocket flight speed: ~208 m/s
Armor penetration:
at an angle of 90°, with a probability of 0.5 - 750-800 mm for 9M113M Operators of the Konkurs ATGM
Azerbaijan - 20 9P148 combat vehicles and 400 9M113 missiles [7]
Algeria - a number of 9K111-1 “Competition” complexes, as of 2010[8],
Armenia - 9 9P148 combat vehicles, as of 2016[9]
Belarus - a number of 9K111-1 “Konkurs” complexes, as of 2010[10]
Bulgaria - 236 9K111 "Fagot" and 9K111-1 "Konkurs" complexes, as of 2010[11], 400 9M113 ATGMs were produced under license for the BMP-30 in the period from 1988 to 1996[12]
Hungary - 100 combat vehicles and 2060 9M113 missiles were supplied from the USSR between 1974 and 1988[12], as of 2010, 100 9K111-1 “Konkurs” complexes are still in service[13]
Guinea - a number of 9M113 ATGMs, as of 2010[14]
Georgia - a certain amount of 9M113, as of 2017[15]
GDR - 52 9P148 combat vehicles were supplied from the USSR in the period from 1980 to 1983[12], 11,200 9M113 missiles were supplied from the USSR in the period from 1980 to 1989[12]
Egypt - 580 9M113 missiles for Fahd armored personnel carriers were supplied from Russia between 1992 and 1995[12]
India - 110 SPTRK based on BRDM-2 with 9M111 and 9M113 missiles (presumably 9P148), as of 2010[16], 1000 9M113 missiles were supplied from the USSR in the period from 1989 to 1991[12]. 25,000 9M113 missiles were ordered from the USSR in 1988, produced under license since 1992 (including the 9M113M version), as of 2011, 12,800 missiles were produced[12]
Iraq - were in service with the Iraqi army during the Gulf War[17]
Iran - a certain number of 9K111-1 “Konkurs” complexes, as of 2010[18], missiles are produced under license under the designation Towsan-1, in the period from 1999 to 2011 2400 units of 9M113 were produced[12]
Kazakhstan - a number of 9K111-1 “Konkurs” complexes, as of 2010[19]
Kyrgyzstan - 12 units 9K111-1 “Competition”, as of 2016 [20][21]
DPRK - a number of 9K111-1 “Konkurs” complexes, as of 2010[22]
Cote d'Ivoire - a number of 9K111-1 "Competition" complexes, as of 2010[23]
Libya - a number of 9K111-1 “Konkurs” complexes, as of 2010[24]
Moldova - 19 9K111-1 “Competition” complexes, as of 2010[25]
Morocco - 100 9M113 missiles delivered from Russia in 2001[12]
Poland - 800 9M113 missiles were supplied from the USSR between 1987 and 1989[12], as of 2010, 18 9K111-1 “Konkurs” complexes are still in service[26]
Russia: Ground Forces of the Russian Federation - a number of 9K111-1 “Konkurs” complexes, as of 2010[27]
Coastal troops of the Russian Navy - 72 complexes 9K11 "Malyutka" and 9K111-1 "Konkurs", as of 2010[28]
Romania - 48 units 9P148, as of 2010[29]
Syria - 400 9M113 missiles were supplied from the USSR between 1984 and 1987[12], as of 2010, 40 9K111-1 “Konkurs” complexes are still in service[30]
Slovakia - 425 complexes 9K11 “Malyutka” and 9K111-1 “Konkurs”, as of 2010[31]
USSR
Turkmenistan - a number of 9K111-1 “Konkurs” complexes, as of 2010[32]
Montenegro - 19 complexes 9K111-1 “Konkurs”, as of 2010[33]
Czech Republic - 21 units 9P148, as of 2010[34]
Ukraine - a number of 9K111-1 “Konkurs” complexes, as of 2010[35]
Finland - 520 9M113 missiles for the BMP-2 were supplied from the USSR and Russia from 1988 to 1992[12]
Eritrea - 200 complexes 9K11 “Malyutka” and 9K111-1 “Konkurs”, as of 2010[36]

Compound

Combat vehicle 9P148

Main article
9P148 “Competition” Launcher 9P148

Launcher body 9P148

Launcher 9P135

Starting guides on the roof of the 9P148 housing

Hardware part of the 9P148

In addition to standard installation blocks 9P135

, the BM “Competition” contains special blocks:

light interference indication unit (allows you to detect light interference that interferes with the semi-automatic guidance of the missile at the target);
built-in equipment for monitoring and testing starting circuits;
electromechanical guidance and synchronization drives.

ATGM 9M113

ATGMs 9M14P1, 9M113M and 9M113 in the Tula State Museum of Weapons

Missiles of the 9M113

When the operator presses the “start” button, the electrical circuit of the squib of the hinged front cover of the TPK is closed, the cover opens, releasing the push rod of the squib contact of the power supply compartment (it also contains the Ш9 connector, which ensures switching of the electrical circuits of the rocket and the combat vehicle).
Under the influence of the squib pulse, the separated batteries close and supply power to the on-board network of the product. The gyro powder generator ignites. After spinning up the gyroscope to operating speed (about 10,000 rpm), the inertial contactor switches the fuse of the expelling charge.
The expelling charge ignites, pushing the product out of the TPK.
The main engine is ignited by its own inertial contactor after the missile reaches a speed of about 300 m/s (which occurs at a distance of approximately 70 m from the firing position).

Anti-tank generations

The Germans were the first to develop anti-tank guided missiles (ATGMs) back in the middle of World War II. By 1945, the Ruhrstahl company had managed to produce several hundred units of the Rotkappchen (“Little Red Riding Hood”) ATGM.

After the end of the war, these weapons fell into the hands of the Allies, and they became the basis for the development of their own anti-tank systems. In the 50s, French engineers managed to create two successful missile systems: SS-10 and SS-11.

Only a few years later, Soviet designers began developing anti-tank missiles, but already one of the first examples of Soviet ATGMs became an undoubted world bestseller. The Malyutka missile system turned out to be very simple and very effective. In the Arab-Israeli war, with its help, up to 800 armored vehicles were destroyed in a few weeks (Soviet data).

All of the above ATGMs belonged to first-generation weapons; the missile was controlled by wire, its flight speed was low, and its armor penetration was low. But the worst thing was something else: the operator had to control the rocket throughout its flight, which placed high demands on his qualifications.

In the second generation of ATGMs, this problem was partially solved: the complexes received semi-automatic guidance, and the missile's flight speed was significantly increased. The operator of these anti-tank missile systems simply had to point the weapon at the target, fire a shot, and keep the object in the crosshairs until the missile hit. Its control was taken over by a computer that was part of the missile complex.

The second generation of these weapons includes the Soviet ATGMs “Fagot”, “Konkurs”, “Metis”, the American TOW and Dragon, the European Milan complex and many others. Today, the overwhelming majority of samples of these weapons, which are in service with various armies of the world, belong to the second generation.

Since the beginning of the 80s, the development of the next, third generation ATGM began in different countries. The Americans have made the most progress in this direction.

A few words should be said about the concept of creating a new weapon

This is important, because the approaches of Soviet and Western designers were very different

In the West, they began to develop anti-tank missile systems that operate on the “fire and forget” principle. The operator’s task is to aim the missile at the target, wait for it to be captured by the missile homing head (GOS), fire and quickly leave the launch site. The smart rocket will do the rest itself.

An example of an ATGM that operates on this principle is the American Javelin complex. The missile of this complex is equipped with a thermal homing head, which reacts to the heat generated by the power plant of a tank or other armored vehicle. There is one more advantage that ATGMs of this design have: they can hit tanks in the upper, most unprotected projection.

However, in addition to undeniable advantages, such systems also have serious disadvantages. The main one is the high cost of the rocket. In addition, a missile with an infrared seeker cannot hit an enemy bunker or firing point, the range of use of such a complex is limited, and the operation of a missile with such a seeker is not very reliable. It is only capable of hitting armored vehicles with the engine running, which have a good thermal contrast with the surrounding terrain.

In the USSR they took a slightly different path; it is usually described with the slogan: “I see and shoot.” It is on this principle that the newest Russian ATGM “Kornet” operates.

After the shot, the missile is aimed at the target and kept on its trajectory using a laser beam. In this case, the missile's photodetector is facing the launcher, which ensures high noise immunity of the Kornet missile system. In addition, this ATGM is equipped with a thermal imaging sight, which allows it to fire at any time of the day.

This method of guidance seems anachronistic compared to foreign third-generation ATGMs, but it has a number of significant advantages.

Performance characteristics

Rocket length (with ejector): 1165 mm
Length of TPK with rocket: 1260—1263 mm
Diameter: 135 mm
Wingspan: 468 mm
Firing range: during the day - 75-4000 m
at night - 75-3500 m

Weight of portable PU 9P135: 22 kg

Rocket launch weight: 14.5 kg (<=17 kg 9M113M[4])

Missile mass in TPK: 25.3 kg (<=27.4 kg 9M113M[4])

Weight of cumulative warhead: 2.7 kg

Average rocket flight speed: ~208 m/s

Armor penetration:

at an angle of 60° - 250 mm

at an angle of 90°, with a probability of 0.5 - 750-800 mm for 9M113M[4]

Launchers

Kornet-D on the VPK-233116 chassis.

9P161 -
Self-propelled ATGM 9K128 Kornet-S on the BMP-3 chassis with two launchers, each with 1 guide and automatic loader
.
9P162 -
Self-propelled ATGM 9K128-1 Cornet-T on the BMP-3, BTR-80 chassis with two launchers, each with 1 guide and automatic loader
.
9P162M -
Self-propelled ATGM Kornet-D1 on the BMD-4M chassis
.
9P163 -
Portable ATGM 9K129 Cornet-P with 1 guide
.
9P163-1 -
Portable ATGM 9K129-1 Cornet-P with 1 guide.
Experienced self-propelled ATGM 9K135 Vest on a UAZ-3151 chassis with 4 guides and an automatic loader .
9P163-2 Quartet -
Combat module of the Kornet\Kornet-E ATGM with 4 guides and an automatic loader for placement on light carriers
.
9P163-2M Quartet-M -
Combat module of the Kornet-D\EM ATGM with 4 guides and an automatic loader for placement on light carriers
.
9P163-3 -
Self-propelled ATGM Kornet-D1\EM on the VPK-233116\VPK-233136 Tiger-M chassis with two launchers, each with 4 guides and an automatic loader.
9P163M-1 -
Portable and portable ATGM Kornet-P\E with 1 guide
.
9P163M-2 -
Portable and portable ATGM Kornet-D\EM with 1 guide
.

Operators

Azerbaijan22x20px Azerbaijan - 20 9P148 combat vehicles and 400 9M113 missiles [5]
Algeria22x20px Algeria - a number of 9K111-1 “Konkurs” complexes, as of 2010[6],
Armenia22x20px Armenia - 9 9P148 combat vehicles, as of 2016[7]
Belarus22x20px Belarus - a number of 9K111-1 “Konkurs” complexes, as of 2010[8]
Bulgaria22x20px Bulgaria - 236 9K111 "Fagot" and 9K111-1 "Konkurs" complexes, as of 2010[9], 400 9M113 ATGMs were produced under license for the BMP-30 in the period from 1988 to 1996[10]
Hungary22x20px Hungary - 100 combat vehicles and 2060 9M113 missiles were delivered from the USSR between 1974 and 1988[10], as of 2010, 100 9K111-1 “Konkurs” complexes are still in service[11]
Guinea22x20px Guinea - a number of 9M113 ATGMs, as of 2010[12]
Georgia22x20px Georgia - some number of 9M113, as of 2020[13]
GDR22x20px GDR - 52 9P148 combat vehicles were supplied from the USSR in the period from 1980 to 1983[10], 11,200 9M113 missiles were supplied from the USSR in the period from 1980 to 1989[10]
Egypt22x20px Egypt - 580 9M113 missiles for Fahd armored personnel carriers were supplied from Russia between 1992 and 1995[10]
India22x20px India - 110 SPTRK based on BRDM-2 with 9M111 and 9M113 missiles (presumably 9P148), as of 2010[14], 1000 9M113 missiles were supplied from the USSR in the period from 1989 to 1991[10]. 25,000 9M113 missiles were ordered from the USSR in 1988, produced under license since 1992 (including the 9M113M version), as of 2011, 12,800 missiles were produced[10]
Iraq22x20px Iraq - were in service with the Iraqi army during the Gulf War[15]
Iran22x20px Iran - a certain number of 9K111-1 “Konkurs” complexes, as of 2010[16], missiles are produced under license under the designation Towsan-1, in the period from 1999 to 2011 2400 units of 9M113[10] were produced
Kazakhstan22x20px Kazakhstan - a number of 9K111-1 “Konkurs” complexes, as of 2010[17]
Kyrgyzstan22x20px Kyrgyzstan - 12 units 9K111-1 “Competition”, as of 2020 [18][19]
DPRK22x20px DPRK - a number of 9K111-1 “Konkurs” complexes, as of 2010[20]
Cote d'Ivoire22x20px Cote d'Ivoire - a number of 9K111-1 "Competition" complexes, as of 2010[21]
Libya22x20px Libya - a number of 9K111-1 “Konkurs” complexes, as of 2010[22]
Moldova22x20px Moldova - 19 9K111-1 “Konkurs” complexes, as of 2010[23]
Morocco22x20px Morocco - 100 9M113 missiles delivered from Russia in 2001[10]
Poland22x20px Poland - 800 9M113 missiles were supplied from the USSR between 1987 and 1989[10], as of 2010, 18 9K111-1 “Konkurs” complexes are still in service[24]
Russia22x20px Russia: Ground Forces of the Russian Federation - a number of 9K111-1 “Konkurs” complexes, as of 2010[25]
Coastal troops of the Russian Navy - 72 complexes 9K11 "Malyutka" and 9K111-1 "Konkurs", as of 2010[26]

Romania22x20px Romania - 48 units 9P148, as of 2010[27]

Syria22x20px Syria - 400 9M113 missiles were supplied from the USSR between 1984 and 1987[10], as of 2010, 40 9K111-1 “Konkurs” complexes are still in service[28]

Slovakia22x20px Slovakia - 425 complexes 9K11 “Malyutka” and 9K111-1 “Konkurs”, as of 2010[29]

USSR22x20px USSR

Turkmenistan22x20px Turkmenistan - a number of 9K111-1 “Konkurs” complexes, as of 2010[30]

Montenegro22x20px Montenegro - 19 complexes 9K111-1 “Competition”, as of 2010[31]

Czech Republic22x20px Czech Republic - 21 units 9P148, as of 2010[32]

Ukraine22x20px Ukraine - a number of 9K111-1 “Konkurs” complexes, as of 2010[33]

Finland22x20px Finland - 520 9M113 missiles for the BMP-2 were supplied from the USSR and Russia between 1988 and 1992[10]

Eritrea22x20px Eritrea - 200 complexes 9K11 “Malyutka” and 9K111-1 “Konkurs”, as of 2010[34]

Template:Columns

Combat use of the complex

The first serious conflict in which the Kornet complex was used was the war in Lebanon in 2006. The Hezbollah group actively used this anti-tank system, which practically thwarted the offensive of the Israeli army. According to the Israelis, 46 Merkava tanks were damaged during the fighting. Although, not all of them were shot down from the Kornet. Hezbollah received these ATGMs through Syria.

According to Islamists, Israel's losses were actually much greater.

In 2011, Hezbollah used a Kornet to target an Israeli school bus.

During the civil war in Syria, many units of these weapons from looted government arsenals fell into the hands of both the moderate opposition and ISIS units (an organization banned in the Russian Federation).

During Operation Protective Edge, most of the anti-tank missiles fired at Israeli tanks were various modifications of the Kornet. All of them were intercepted by the Trophy active tank defense. The Israelis took several complexes as trophies.

In Yemen, the Houthis have very successfully used this anti-tank system against Saudi Arabian armored vehicles.