How Ukraine’s Stugna-P anti-tank missile becomes a key asset against Russian tanks.

On November 17, 2024, Yigal Levin reported the effective use of the Stugna-P anti-tank guided missile (ATGM) system by soldiers from the 109th Mountain Assault Battalion of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. The battalion targeted a Russian turtle tank, in a confrontation where the tandem warhead of the Stugna-P successfully penetrated the tank's double-layered armor after a second strike, setting it ablaze.
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Since 2014, Ukrainian forces have adapted the Stugna-P for mobile operations by mounting it on vehicles like quad bikes, enabling rapid deployment and repositioning. (Picture source: Ukrainian MoD)

The Stugna-P anti-tank guided missile (ATGM) has been used since the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2014. It has been employed in various roles, including the defense of strategic locations such as Luhansk and Donetsk airports. Ukrainian forces have adapted the system for mobile operations by mounting it on vehicles like quad bikes, enabling rapid deployment and repositioning. During one engagement near Izyum in 2022, a single operator managed to destroy or damage four tanks in four minutes. The system's capabilities have been demonstrated in various scenarios, including urban combat and duels with Russian Kornet ATGM operators. It has also been used for strikes on logistical vehicles and static positions.

Unlike modern fire-and-forget systems like the Javelin or Akeron-MP, the Stugna-P requires continuous guidance until the missile reaches its target. However, it has a maximum firing range of 5,000 meters, compared to the Javelin's range of approximately 2,500 meters. To reduce operator risk, the Stugna-P possesses a remote-control feature that allows operation from a control panel up to 50 meters away. The Javelin, on the other hand, uses a "fire-and-forget" infrared guidance system, allowing operators to move immediately after launch, but lacks the remote operation capability. The Stugna-P's missiles are priced at around $20,000 each, significantly lower than the Javelin's estimated cost of $100,000 per missile.

The Stugna-P, in service since 2011, was developed by the Kyiv Design Bureau "Luch" for use against tanks, armored vehicles, and helicopters. The system can fire missiles of two calibers, 130mm and 152mm, equipped with various warhead types such as tandem cumulative, high-explosive fragmentation, and thermobaric. The 130mm tandem cumulative warhead can penetrate up to 800mm of armor behind explosive reactive armor (ERA), while the 152mm variant can penetrate up to 1,200mm behind ERA. The system is effective against a range of targets, including tanks like the T-90 series and helicopters, as demonstrated by reports of it being used to destroy Russian Ka-52 helicopters.

Interestingly, the Stugna-P system was developed initially in collaboration with Belarus but has since been adapted to use only Ukrainian components. An export version, called Skif, includes Belarusian optics and has been sold to several countries, including Azerbaijan, Algeria, and Turkey, where production has been established. Recent updates, such as the Skif-M variant, include a lighter tripod, improved power systems, and an upgraded guidance unit.

Despite its extensive use, operational security measures and the depletion of pre-war stocks have limited the visibility of the system on the battlefield. However, production continues, with reports of a quadrupled output in 2023. The system remains in use against a range of targets, with documented successful engagements at ranges exceeding its nominal maximum of 5 kilometers. Reports also indicate its use against static and mobile targets, including helicopters and infantry in field shelters. Additionally, the Stugna-P has been mounted on vehicles for increased mobility, and export models include configurations with additional weaponry such as machine guns.