The thermal imaging systems used by the Ukrainian RK-3 Corsar and Stugna-P anti-tank guided missiles (ATGMs) are made by the Turkish company ASELSAN. Turkish sources have provided this information.
The most popular systems for which ASELSAN’s thermal imaging systems are employed are weapons systems. ASELSAN products are used by a variety of weapon systems, including stabilized weapon systems, MANPADS, and anti-tank missile launchers, to fulfill their imaging and targeting requirements. The Ukrainian RK-3 Corsar and Stugna-P anti-tank guided missile systems are other weapon system that uses these items.
RK-3 Corsar
The RK-3 Corsar anti-tank missile, created by Ukraine’s Kyiv Design Bureau, has a range of 2.5 kilometres. The laser beam guidance system is used by Corsar, a 36 kilogramme, 107 mm-diameter spacecraft. Both a tandem armor-piercing warhead and high-explosive high-explosive missiles are equipped with it. With a tandem warhead, the RK-3 Corsar can pierce 550 mm of RHA armour that is placed beneath explosive jet armour. ASELSAN developed the TTC120 Corsar Missile System Thermal Camera for Corsar. The number of launchers that the TTC120 is utilised in is unknown.
Before the Russo-Ukrainian War, Ukrainian soldiers engaged in limited-scale combat with Russian forces while using the Corsar, which has been in service since 2017. The Corsar started to appear more frequently on the front lines as the war broke out. The Aselsan TTC120 thermal imaging system was also exported with the Corsar missile to Saudi Arabia. The Corsar is not utilised as frequently by the Ukrainian armed forces as the Stugna-P system, despite its export success.
Stugna-P
The thermal imaging systems created by ASELSAN are also used in the Stugna-P or Skiff anti-tank missile system manufactured by the Ukrainian design firm Luch. The ASELSAN DRTGZ-S thermal imaging system was added to the Stugna-P anti-tank missile system at the request of foreign clients. As a result, the system’s capacity to recognise targets was significantly improved.
Two different calibre missiles with a diameter of 130 mm and 152 mm can be used with the Stugna-P anti-tank missile system, which incorporates a laser beam guiding system. With 130 mm-diameter rockets, a range of up to 5 km can be attained; with 152 mm-diameter missiles, a range of up to 5.5 km can be attained.
While the ready-to-fire system weighs 104 kg while using 152 mm rockets, this weight lowers to 97 kg when using 130 mm rockets. The option of dual armor-piercing and high-explosive warheads is available for both missile calibres.
One of the most popular anti-tank missiles from Ukraine is the ATGM Stugna-P. Throughout the conflict, Stugna-P missiles obliterated a large number of Russian tanks, armoured vehicles, and even a few helicopters. The Stugna-P has been marketed to numerous nations in a variety of configurations and can also be utilised in the ASELSAN SERDAR remote control weapon system.
