Russians Install ATGM on UAV

25 January, 2024 A fire from the 9K111 Fagot ATGM mounted on a Russian multi-rotor drone, January 2024 Russian engineers are experimenting with installing anti-tank missile systems on unmanned aerial vehicles. Footage of the tests was published by Ukrainian blogger Andrii Tarasenko.

The released video shows the take-off and landing of a drone armed with a 9?111 Fagot ATGM, as well as a shot from it. In particular, two methods of fire are shown: shooting from the ground and hovering in the air. The latter, judging by the personnel, was ineffective due to the instability of the platform.

On the stop frame, it can be seen that additional equipment was installed on the ATGM, which is located at the control units of the system. This can talk about the implementation of remote control.

Nevertheless, the video did not reveal any new sighting devices, apart from standard optical ones designed for manual human control.

"People's" modernization of ATGM

This is not the first time that Russian craftsmen experimenting with outdated Soviet ATGMs. This phenomenon is prevalent due to the lack of modern third-generation analogs in the Russian army and a shortage of new Russian systems. One of the primary drawbacks of older anti-tank systems is the requirement for manual guidance of the missile throughout its flight, placing the complex operator constantly at risk of enemy fire.

To solve this problem, Russians practice the makeshift installation of remote control kits. The video shows the Kornet ATGM modernized in this way, which received a remote control with wire control as well as a thermal sight with an image output to the console monitor.

Similar DIY modernization kits were also seen for the Fagot ATGMs. Conceptually, they repeat the Ukrainian Stugna-P ATGM, which performed well in the Russian-Ukrainian war. Recall that the Defense Forces received a new version of the Stugna-P anti-tank missile system, which was modernized taking into account the experience of the Russian-Ukrainian war.

2022 at the MSPO exhibition in Poland, September 2023

In particular, the system received a new lightweight remote control and a new PN-U aiming and guidance module, which, at the request of the Ukrainian servicemen, integrated a laser rangefinder.