To say that Ukraine is receiving a lot more weapons than it does is to be ignorant. Although the entire “Western”, world is currently the heart and arsenal for this defending nation, it should not be forgotten that it was armed even since 2014. After the annexation, many interesting items were discovered by those in power. We have listed below the weaponry that Ukraine produces and referred you to more detailed information for some.
Also see: Russian termite, i.e. The Grad launcher and 9M22S missiles unleashed a torrent of fire.
Let’s begin the list with the RK-3 Korsarz guided-anti-tank missile defense system. It has been in service since 2017. The Kiev-based Łucz Design Office is responsible for it and if you hear about it for the first time, it is hardly surprising, because it is a weapon that is in the shadow of Stugn, Javelings or NLAW. Destiny? Destroying heavily armored targets. This weapon was originally designed for use in combat against tanks. Although it has only been in service for a brief time, it was in fact in production as early as 2005.
The system was comprised of reusable launchers with 1.16 meter and 15.5 kilogram (3.7kg warhead weight) missiles RK-3K, HEAT type with a tandem warfare head, and RK-3OF (high explosive shell) with a diameter measuring 107mm. Laser guidance allows them to hit targets up to 2,500m away. This includes both low-flying helicopters as well as tanks. However, their effectiveness is limited by the penetration of only 550 mm armor behind the ERA module.
Due to its 36-kilogram mass, the thermal imaging camera can be used in night activities. The system can also be placed on a tripod.
In 2005, the first kits were developed. The Stugna was first designed with 100 mm rounds. Later, it was improved to the Stugna P variant with 130 mm round, which can handle the most armored targets. These systems entered the Ukrainian Armed Forces service in 2011. However, the first agreement for their use was not signed until after the annexation. The mass production of StugnaP began in 2015.
These missiles can fly up to 5.500m away from a target for as long as 14.3 seconds. It is important to mention this because the launcher operator must direct the special laser at the target all the time. This determines the trajectory of the fired missile. This process can be performed “over the shoulders” or after the set is deployed using the reusable launcher.
The StugnaP can be equipped with RK-2M antitank missiles and can penetrate RHA armor upto 1100 mm thick. An older RK-2S can carry over 800mm steel with a combined tandem warhead.