On November 1, 2024, the Iran Military Twitter account shared a video from Hezbollah showcasing a modified Kornet anti-tank missile launcher equipped with a triple-launch configuration. This unprecedented device is reportedly aimed at circumventing the active protection systems (APS) of enemy armored units. This modification, not found in standard Russian military equipment, suggests a tactical enhancement tailored to Hezbollah's operational needs.

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  Hezbollah modified Kornet anti-tank missile launcher (Picture source: @IRIran_Military)

The Kornet system, a Russian-made anti-tank guided missile, is widely used by armed forces around the world, including the Russian military and groups like Hezbollah. Originally, the Kornet launcher is designed to fire two missiles in rapid succession from a dual-tube configuration. However, recent images reveal that Hezbollah has adapted a triple-launcher setup, a specific modification likely intended to increase its anti-armor capabilities. This configuration appears unique to Hezbollah, with no triple-launch version publicly associated with the Russian military.

These systems are specifically designed to neutralize guided anti-tank missiles like the Kornet, which are often capable of penetrating advanced armor. In a successful impact or interception, the active protection systems trigger a premature detonation of the missile’s warhead, significantly reducing the likelihood of penetration of the vehicle's main armor. The APS technology thus allows Israeli vehicles to maintain their mobility and operational effectiveness even in hostile environments.

The Kornet system is known for its versatility and effectiveness against modern armored vehicles. Using laser-guided technology, Kornet missiles can penetrate advanced armor systems, including those equipped with explosive reactive armor (ERA). The missile can be deployed both from fixed tripods and vehicle mounts, offering substantial tactical flexibility. Thanks to its laser guidance, the Kornet ensures high accuracy, essential for targeting heavily protected military equipment.

The Kornet has an approximate range of 5 to 8 kilometers, enabling operators to strike armored targets from a considerable distance. Its warhead, equipped with a tandem-charge mechanism, is designed to counter layered armor. The warhead operates in two stages: the initial charge pierces the outer armor, often ERA, while the main charge penetrates the primary armor. This two-stage design maximizes damage on impact, delivering enough firepower to neutralize or destroy the targeted vehicle.

This weapon system also comes in a thermobaric variant, which releases an inflammable aerosol combined with fine metal particles, creating an intense explosion upon detonation. This thermobaric version of the Kornet can penetrate up to 1 meter of steel, giving it exceptional destructive power against heavily armored targets.

For Hezbollah, adapting a triple-launch configuration is likely a direct response to the advanced active protection systems used by the Israeli army. Systems like Rafael’s Trophy and Elbit’s Iron Fist provide advanced protection to Israeli Merkava tanks and armored vehicles such as the Namer and Eitan, intercepting and neutralizing potential threats. These APS solutions have proven effective in mitigating the impact of anti-tank weapons, posing a significant challenge to hostile forces attempting to damage Israeli equipment.

The Trophy and Iron Fist systems integrate a combination of radar sensors and countermeasures to monitor the immediate environment of the armored vehicle. Trophy, for example, uses multi-spectrum radars to detect and track threats entering a defined coverage area around the tank. When a projectile is detected, the system calculates its trajectory, and if it is deemed likely to hit the vehicle, a response is activated. Explosive countermeasures are then deployed to intercept the missile or rocket before it reaches its target.

Iron Fist operates similarly but offers additional features for smaller vehicles. In addition to radar, it can use infrared sensors to enhance detection and interception precision, especially in challenging environments. Once a threat is identified, Iron Fist also deploys a neutralizing projectile capable of destroying the threat’s warhead mid-flight.

In response, the triple-launch design could be used to “saturate” these defense systems by firing multiple missiles in quick succession to exceed their interception capacity. By launching three missiles, Hezbollah increases the likelihood that at least one of the projectiles will evade the APS and strike its target. This saturation tactic is a tactical adaptation intended to counter the sophisticated defenses provided by Israeli APS technology.

The Kornet has a historical precedent in Middle Eastern conflicts, with its early Soviet-made versions, such as the Sagger anti-tank missile, challenging Israeli armor during the Yom Kippur War. While APS technology has since evolved, Hezbollah’s modified Kornet system illustrates a continued arms race in anti-armor weaponry, highlighting the tactical adaptations of non-state actors in response to advanced military defenses.

The Israeli army, aware of the increased threat posed by Hezbollah’s anti-tank arsenal, has responded by targeting Kornet launch sites with various countermeasures, including armed drones. According to Israeli sources, the presence of launchers capable of firing multiple missiles poses a “major problem,” necessitating both preventive and reactive measures to neutralize these assets before they can effectively engage Israeli forces.

Hezbollah’s modified Kornet launcher demonstrates an evolving approach to bypass active protection systems, adopting a triple-launcher configuration to enhance its engagement capabilities. This development reflects the dynamics of asymmetric warfare, where tactical innovations are continually adapted to counter technological advances in defense. The modified Kornet system not only expands Hezbollah’s anti-tank capabilities but also symbolizes the growing complexity of threats faced by conventional military forces in the region. No feedback on the effectiveness of such a device has yet been disclosed.

To date, available information indicates that the Israeli army has suffered material losses to Hezbollah, including the destruction of several armored vehicles. According to a report dated November 1, 2024, Hezbollah claims to have destroyed 42 Merkava tanks, 4 bulldozers, and 2 Humvees since the start of the Israeli ground offensive in late September. However, these figures come from Hezbollah-affiliated sources and have not been independently verified. The Israeli authorities have not published official data regarding military vehicle losses in this conflict.

In a new episode of rising tensions in the region, Nasr-1 missiles were fired at the Beit Lid military base, located east of Netanya, Israel. This attack, reported by local sources, is part of a series of bombardments that also targeted the city of Safed in northern Israel. The announcement was made on October 17, 2024.

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The Nasr-1 is an anti-ship missile designed and manufactured by Iran. (Picture source: Iranian Media)

The Beit Lid base holds strategic importance as a gathering point for Israeli military forces operating in the region. Targeting this base suggests an attempt to disrupt Israeli military activities and disorganize defense operations in the country's central region.

Simultaneously, Safed, a city of historical and military significance in northern Israel, was also hit by a barrage of missiles. This bombardment signals an expansion of the attacks beyond military bases, also aiming at urban and civilian centers. The choice of Safed as a target could be symbolic, given its proximity to Israel's northern borders, a region frequently marked by tensions with Hezbollah in Lebanon. These attacks occur within a context of increased tensions between Israel, armed groups in the region, and Iran.

In response, the Israeli army has strengthened its defenses in the affected areas and intensified patrols along the borders. Air defense systems have also been deployed to intercept potential new threats, while authorities continue to assess the damage caused by the bombardments.

The current escalation in the region highlights a growing complexity in the theater of operations, where missile technology is evolving rapidly, impacting not only military infrastructure but also the civilian population. The coming days will be crucial to evaluate the impact of these attacks on Israel’s defense strategy and the responses that Tel Aviv might consider in the face of these new threats.

Nasr-1 missiles were fired at the Beit Lid military base, located east of Netanya, Israel. (Picture source: Iranian Media)

The Nasr-1 is an anti-ship missile designed and manufactured by Iran, in service since December 2008. Developed by the Iran Aviation Industries Organization, it is primarily used by the Iranian naval forces, where it plays a strategic role in coastal defense and the protection of territorial waters. Its design is optimized to target enemy ships, thus offering a deterrent capability against adversarial naval forces.

Weighing around 350 kg, the Nasr-1 is 3.5 meters long with a diameter of 0.28 meters, making it a relatively compact and mobile missile, capable of being launched from various platforms, including trucks equipped with launchers. Its 0.9-meter wingspan, once unfolded, stabilizes its trajectory in flight, increasing its accuracy. One of its key features is its warhead: it is equipped with a 150 kg semi-armor-piercing high-explosive warhead with a delayed impact fuse, capable of causing significant damage to armored ships and heavily protected targets.

The Nasr-1 is powered by a solid rocket motor, enabling it to reach speeds between Mach 0.8 and 0.9. While its operational range is relatively modest, with a 35 km range, it remains a major asset for Iranian forces in coastal defense contexts and short-range naval operations. Its subsonic speed, combined with its sophisticated guidance systems, ensures increased precision in targeting naval assets.

The missile has an advanced guidance system, combining a TV-homing seeker and millimeter-wave radar. This allows the Nasr-1 to lock onto and track its targets with great precision, even under jamming conditions or poor visibility. By integrating these two technologies, the missile can navigate through complex environments to strike its target with pinpoint accuracy.

Thus, the Nasr-1 embodies a robust weapons technology for short-range naval operations. It stands out for its ability to inflict considerable damage on enemy ships while being rapidly deployable from mobile platforms, making it a key strategic component of the Iranian naval arsenal.

Image of the video showing a Nasr-1 fired at Israel. (Picture source: Iranian Media)

The firing of Nasr-1 missiles at the Beit Lid base and the bombardment of Safed represent a significant escalation in the regional conflict. The use of these sophisticated missiles reflects the growing complexity of military strategies in the region, where both strategic and civilian targets are being struck, further intensifying the already high tensions.

As reported by War Noir on June 24, 2024, members of the Al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, destroyed a Namer Handasa heavy engineering vehicle belonging to the Israel Defense Forces' (IDF) Combat Engineering Corps in Rafah, Gaza Strip. The attack was carried out using the HJ-8L, a variant of China's HJ-8 anti-tank guided missile, designed to be lighter and more easily transportable while retaining the same anti-armor capabilities.
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The attack against the Namer Handasa heavy engineering vehicle was carried out using the HJ-8L, a variant of China's HJ-8 anti-tank guided missile, designed to be lighter and more easily transportable while retaining the same anti-armor capabilities. (Picture source: Twitter/War Noir and Wikimedia)

The HJ-8, or Hongjian-8, is a second-generation, tube-launched, optically tracked, wire-guided anti-tank missile system developed by China. Development began in 1970 when China's armored corps sought a replacement for the HJ-73. Designated as AFT-8 or HJ-8, the project experienced delays due to political issues but resumed after the Cultural Revolution, completing in the early 1980s. Designed by Wang Xingzhi and Zhao Jiazheng, the missile entered mass production in 1984 after receiving state certification. The HJ-8 has been in service since 1985 and is produced by NORINCO's factories and GIDS in Pakistan. It has been used in conflicts such as the Yugoslav wars, the Sri Lankan Civil War, and the Syrian Civil War.

The HJ-8 series is China's first domestically developed anti-tank missile system, influenced by Western systems like the US BGM-71 TOW, French/German MILAN, and UK Swingfire. It features a HEAT warhead capable of penetrating 800–1100 mm of RHA, with models like the HJ-8E offering a range of up to 4,000 meters and the capability to defeat explosive reactive armor (ERA). The HJ-8 can be deployed from tripods, vehicles, and aircraft, and is used as the anti-tank weapon for several PLA helicopter gunships, including the Z-9W and Mi-17.

The HJ-8L variant was developed to meet the need for a lighter anti-tank missile system, based on combat experiences in the Bosnian War. The HJ-8L, weighing 22.5 kg due to the use of composite materials and advanced microelectronics, can be equipped with two missile types: a smaller one with a 3 km range and a larger one with a 4 km range. This variant can be carried by a crew of two, offering flexibility in various combat scenarios while maintaining the system's capabilities.

The HJ-8L variant was developed to meet the need for a lighter anti-tank missile system, based on combat experiences in the Bosnian War. (Picture source: Wikimedia)

The Namer Handasa ("Engineering Namer"), also referred to as "Namer E," is a heavily armored combat engineering vehicle developed and manufactured in Israel. It serves as a specialized version of the Merkava-based Namer armored personnel carrier (APC), designed to function as an engineering and heavy sapper APC. The Namer E was introduced into the Israel Defense Forces' (IDF) Combat Engineering Corps in late 2016, replacing the older Puma APC.

The Namer E is based on the standard Namer heavy APC platform but includes several modifications for its engineering role. Since the Namer E is intended to support Merkava tanks at the front lines, it features enhanced armor and the Trophy active protection system (APS). It includes a remote-controlled weapon station, typically armed with a .50 caliber M2 Browning heavy machine gun, and a digital battle management system integrated with the IDF's C4I network.

The Namer Handasa is equipped with a range of engineering tools and attachments that can be installed as needed. These include bulldozer blades, plows, bridging equipment, minefield breaching systems like the Tzefa Shiryon, Carpet rocket mine-clearing system, jammers, and electromagnetic IED detectors. Additionally, classified engineering systems and equipment are stored on the vehicle's roof for use by sappers. The vehicle's design also accommodates ten sappers, with entry through a rear door, similar to APCs like the Achzarit and M113, unlike the front entry of the Puma and Centurion-based APCs.

The development of the Namer E began in 2011, with a prototype entering trial service with the 605th Battalion of the Combat Engineering Corps by the end of that year. (Picture source: Wikimedia)

The Namer E is built in three basic configurations: a company commander's vehicle with a bulldozer blade, a platoon commander's vehicle with breaching tools such as the Nokri plow, and a platoon sergeant's vehicle with bridging equipment.

The development of the Namer E began in 2011, with a prototype entering trial service with the 605th Battalion of the Combat Engineering Corps by the end of that year. The development of the operational model was completed in 2016, and it entered service with the Combat Engineering Corps' 603rd Battalion ("Lehav") in late 2016. In 2021, the 601st Battalion ("Asaf") was converted to use the Namer E.

The Namer E participated in the ground maneuver in the Gaza Strip during Operation Swords of Iron. On June 15, 2024, during operations in the Tel al-Sultan area of Rafah, a Namer E from the 601st Battalion of the Combat Engineering Corps was hit by either a belly charge or an anti-tank missile fired by Hamas, resulting in the deaths of eight soldiers.

This heavily armored vehicle measures 8.2 meters in length, 3.92 meters in width, and approximately 2.5 meters in height, including the machine gun station. It weighs 63.5 tons and can reach a maximum speed of 53 km/h with a range of 500 kilometers. It is powered by a 1,200-horsepower diesel engine and is equipped with both passive and reactive armor in addition to the Trophy active protection system. The crew consists of three personnel plus ten combat engineers. Its primary armament includes a remote-controlled weapon station with a .50 caliber Browning heavy machine gun and rocket clearing systems, while secondary armaments consist of a 7.62 mm MAG machine gun, smoke launchers, and a 60 mm mortar.