Army 2024: Russia Unveils the Kh-BPLA Missile to Enhance UAV and Helicopter Capabilities.

The Russian defense industry has made strides in expanding its military capabilities with the introduction of the Kh-BPLA guided missile, a new weapon designed to be deployed from unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and helicopters. This missile, revealed at the Army-2024 defense technology exhibition in Moscow, represents a significant advancement in drone-launched munitions as reported on X by MuxelAero. Building on the technological foundations of the Kornet anti-tank missile system and the Krasnopol high-precision artillery shell, the Kh-BPLA is designed to effectively engage a variety of targets.
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The missile's design is based on the 9M133 Kornet-D anti-tank missile but has a heavier weight, reaching 32 kilograms compared to the Kornet-D’s 26 kilograms (Picture source: X Channel @MuxelAero)

Specifically developed for use from drones, the Kh-BPLA missile is intended to strike ground and surface targets, including concentrations of enemy personnel and lightly armored vehicles. The missile's design is based on the 9M133 Kornet-D anti-tank missile but has a heavier weight, reaching 32 kilograms compared to the Kornet-D’s 26 kilograms. Despite this increase in weight, the explosive charge remains comparable, with a high-explosive variant weighing 6 kilograms and a thermobaric warhead weighing 3.2 kilograms.

The Kh-BPLA missile is guided by a reflected laser beam, allowing it to accurately hit targets at distances of up to 8 kilometers and altitudes of up to 4,000 meters. The guidance system likely incorporates technology from the Krasnopol artillery system, ensuring precise targeting as the drone illuminates the target until impact.

The development of the Kh-BPLA missile began in 2021, when reports first emerged about an aerial version of the Kornet-D missile. Since then, the missile has been tested on various platforms, including the Orion reconnaissance and strike drone, the Forpost UAV, and the Ka-52M attack helicopter. The introduction of the Kh-BPLA is part of Russia's broader effort to enhance its military capabilities, particularly in integrating advanced guided munitions with UAV platforms.

Additionally, Russian propagandists have claimed that the Kh-BPLA missile can "deceive" active protection systems on armored vehicles by launching two missiles successively along the same laser path, complicating the defense system's ability to counter the second missile. The missile's ability to simultaneously target multiple enemies or increase the likelihood of a successful strike by launching two missiles at a single target has been highlighted as a key advantage.

The Ka-52M attack helicopter, one of the platforms for the Kh-BPLA, has reportedly been modernized and introduced into service. The Russian Ministry of Defense has released images showing the helicopter in action, demonstrating the continued advancements in Russian military technology. The Army-2024 exhibition also featured the unveiling of an unmanned self-propelled artillery system based on the D-30 howitzer, further emphasizing ongoing innovations within the Russian defense sector.

The Kh-BPLA missile is guided by a reflected laser beam, allowing it to hit targets at distances of up to 8 kilometers accurately and altitudes of up to 4,000 meters(Picture source: X Channel @MuxelAero)