RK-3 Corsar
| RK-3 Corsar | |
|---|---|
 Corsar ATGM with thermal camera by Izyum Machine Plant. 'Zbroya ta Bezpeka' military fair, Kyiv, Ukraine, 2019 | |
| Type | ATGM |
| Place of origin | Ukraine |
| Service history | |
| In service | 2017-present[1] |
| Wars | War in Donbas Russian invasion of Ukraine[2] |
| Production history | |
| Designer | "Luch" State Kyiv Design Bureau[3][4] |
| Designed | since 2005[5] |
| Unit cost | USD 20 000 (July 2013)[4] |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | Total system: 35.8 kilograms (79 lb)[6][7] Launcher w/ thermal imager: 12 kg (26 lb) Mount: 8.3 kg (18 lb) Missile in container: 15.5 kg (34 lb) |
| Length | Missile: 1.16 metres (3.8 ft)[1] |
| Diameter | 107 mm[7][1] |
| Effective firing range | 2500 m[7][1][3] |
| Warhead |
|
Detonation mechanism | contact |
| Engine | Solid-fuel rocket |
Guidance system | laser beam riding |
The RK-3 Corsar[3] (Ukrainian: РК-3 Корсар) is a Ukrainian portable anti-tank guided missile developed by Luch State Kyiv Design Bureau.[7][1]
The Corsar is likely to replace Soviet era anti-tank systems such as the 9M113 Konkurs and 9K111 Fagot.
Description
[edit]Corsar is a light portable anti tank missile system. It is intended to destroy stationary and moving armored targets. It can also be used against emplacements, light-armored objects and helicopters. Firing can be carried out from the mount as well as from a trench parapet. A method of guidance is laser beam riding.[8] The system has two types of warheads. RK-3K Tandem-charge HEAT warhead with at least 550mm penetration behind ERA and RK-3OF high explosive-fragmentation warhead with at least 50mm penetration.
The RK-3K warhead might be able to counter the front armor of medium weight main battle tanks such as T-72A. The system also has HE-fragmentation RK-3OF warhead to attack Infantry positions and light armored vehicles. The system has a thermal imager for use in night time operation.[6][7][1]
Development
[edit]
Ukraine's state-owned defense contractor State Kyiv Design Bureau, Luch started the project in the early 2000s. A prototype was debuted during the 2005 IDEX arms show in Abu Dhabi.[1]
On July 25, 2013 at a landfill near Kyiv, successful tests of the missile were conducted. During testing, the Corsar missile demonstrated the ability to fire both a guided and an unguided rocket using the same launcher.[10]
On August 29, 2017, Ukroboronprom reported that the Corsar Lightweight Portable Missile System, which was developed by the Luch State Design Bureau, was adopted by the Ukrainian Ground Forces, according to the Ministry of Defense.[11]
In November 2018, an updated version of the system with Greek-made thermal imaging camera added to the launcher was demonstrated.[12]
The Corsar is being used for the creation of the Pirat anti-tank missile, developed in cooperation of Polish firms and Luch bureau, in which beam-riding guidance was replaced with semi-active laser homing.[8]
Operators
[edit]
Bangladesh: Border Guards Bangladesh[13]
Saudi Arabia: Saudi Arabian Army[1]
Ukraine: Armed Forces of Ukraine[14]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f g h "Korsar, Anti-tank guided missile". Military Today. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
- ^ "To Knock Out Russian Tanks And Survive, Ukrainian Missileers Have Learned To Shoot And Scoot". Forbes. 2 April 2022. Retrieved 12 April 2022.
- ^ a b c Poland could be interested to purchase Corsar light anti-tank missile weapon system from Ukraine // "Army Recognition"
- ^ a b В Украине испытали уникальное противотанковое оружие ПТРК «Корсар» // "Украина промышленная" от 25 июля 2013
- ^ "На прошедшей выставке "Айдекс-2005" "Укрспецэкспорт" демонстрировал макет новой ПТУР "Корсар""
Михаил Растопшин. Мнимая эффективность // "Военно-промышленный курьер", № 24 (91) от 6 июля 2005 - ^ a b "LUCH, State Kyiv Design Bureau" (PDF). State Kyiv Design Bureau, LUCH. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
- ^ a b c d e f ""CORSAR" light portable missile system". State Kyiv Design Bureau, LUCH. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
- ^ a b Andrzej Kiński (2021). "Pirat - szansa na realne wzmocnienie polskiej obrony przeciwpancernej". Wojsko i Technika (in Polish). No. 6/2021. Warsaw. p. 9. ISSN 2450-1301.
- ^ "Spartan APC (Streit)" (PDF). STREIT Group. Retrieved 21 May 2013.
- ^ "В УКРАЇНІ ПРОВЕДЕНО УСПІШНІ ВИПРОБУВАННЯ ПТРК "КОРСАР", - ВІДЕО". Defence Express. 19 December 2016.
- ^ ""КОРСАР" ПРИЙНЯТО НА ОЗБРОЄННЯ ЗБРОЙНИХ СИЛ УКРАЇНИ: БІЛЬШЕ ПІВСОТНІ РАКЕТ ВЖЕ У ВІЙСЬКАХ". ДК "Укроборонпром". 29 August 2017.
- ^ "Оновлений ПТРК "Корсар" отримав грецький тепловізор". Народна армія. 12 November 2018.
- ^ "Bangladesh Fortifies Island Near Myanmar With Heavy Weapons, Gunboats". Myanmar: The Irrawaddy. 2 January 2019. Retrieved 4 August 2020.
- ^ "Armed Forces of Ukraine received over 2,500 units of Ukraine-made weaponry in 2018". 112.International. Retrieved 29 October 2020.
- ^ "Appearance of the Korsar among the Moroccan land forces". menadefense.net. 27 January 2023. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
External links
[edit]- "Corsar" Light Portable Antitank System, oborona.co.uk