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Hezbollah Upgrades Kornet Anti-Tank Launcher to Beat Israel's High-Tech Armor Defense Systems.
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.
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.