The Stugna-P Ukrainian anti-tank missile is alleged to have recently shot down a Ka-52 chopper.

Ukraine’s Stugna-P anti-tank missile is believed to have recently pulled off a rare feat by shooting down a Ka-52 assault helicopter as it flew through the skies. The Russian side has yet to respond to the incident.

The Ukrainian-developed Stugna-P anti-tank missile is proving to be very effective on the battlefield, shooting down numerous Russian tanks and armoured vehicles. Despite receiving less attention than the Javelin or NLAW anti-tank missiles, the Stugna anti-tank missile has showed remarkable combat performance, demonstrating that it is a highly effective anti-tank weapon. A video of a Ukrainian Stugna-P anti-tank missile supposedly shooting down a Russian Ka-52 helicopter in flight was released on May 4. The Ka-52 helicopter was attacked from a distance of around 2.5 kilometres, when the Russian attack helicopter was flying very low. It was too late when the Russian Ka-52 pilot spotted the missile attack. The Ka-52 assault helicopter exploded and crashed to the ground after being hit by a missile; the fate of the Russian chopper’s crew remains unclear.

The Russian side has not yet commented on the above occurrence, but if the Ka-52 was shot down, it would be a rare feat for Ukraine’s Stugna-P missile line. The Stugna-P missile is a Ukrainian military industry anti-tank weapon. This anti-tank missile system employs laser guidance and is capable of piercing opposing tanks’ strong armour. The Luch Design Bureau in Kiev manufactures the Stugna-P (also known as the Skif in the export version).

The Stugna-P anti-tank missile complex is mounted on a tripod for easy concealment, and the individual shooter may fire from up to 50 metres away. Missiles are launched remotely using a laptop. The Stugna-P missile is reported to have been in service with the Ukrainian Army since 2011. The Stugna-P anti-tank missile has a length of 1,091 mm and a diameter of 130/152 mm. The weight of the missile varies between 29.5 and 38 kg, depending on the version. The Stugna-P missile has an 8-kilogram warhead, a 32-kilogram launcher, and a 25-kilogram targeting mechanism and control panel. The complex employs two types of warheads: two-stage concave explosions and fragmentation explosions; a semi-active laser guidance device; and a 5-kilometer firing range. 800/1,100 mm penetration through steel behind explosive reactive armour .The Stugna-P anti-tank missile system has a distinct edge over competitors of the same type due to its ease of design and cheaper manufacturing costs. Missiles are controlled by a tele-optical control unit, and thermal imaging cameras will be added if necessary to boost combat effectiveness. The Stugna-P complex’s guidance device is a laptop paired with a control panel that includes a small lever and a display screen to observe while guiding the missile to the target. Ukraine’s Stugna-P anti-tank missile system is outfitted with four different types of missiles in two sizes.

The first is a 130 mm diameter group that consists of RK-2S 2-stage concave explosive ammo and RK-2OF fragmentation explosive shell. The RK-2M-K 2-stage concave explosive warhead missile and the RK-2M-OF fragmentation warhead are part of the big group, which has a body diameter of up to 152 mm. Furthermore, the Stugna-P anti-tank missile includes a 100 mm diameter version that can be launched from the main gun of the T-55AMV tank or the BMP-3 infantry battle vehicle.

The company disclosed the specs of the RK-2M-K missile, which is capable of penetrating 1,100 mm of steel behind explosive reactive armour (ERA), whereas the RK-2S is capable of penetrating 800 mm. The Ukrainian Stugna-P anti-tank missile is a very effective weapon because to its exceptional tactical features and inexpensive cost. Approximately 100 launchers are now in service for defence. The Luch Design Bureau is currently increasing manufacturing of this missile in order to serve the front lines.