1 photo

Missile

Russia

KBP Instrument Design Bureau

9M133 Kornet

A Russian laser-beam-riding anti-tank guided missile with a heavy tandem warhead capable of defeating explosive reactive armor, fired from tripod, vehicle and turret-mounted launchers. It is one of the most widely exported and combat-tested ATGMs, used extensively on multiple fronts.

In service since 1998 · 20 operator countries

Compiled from public sources ·primary reference ↗ ·last verified 2026-07-02

km range

0.75

Mach

kg warhead

Several performance figures for Russia-origin systems are manufacturer or state claims with limited independent verification. Treat these specs as directional, not tested values.

Pricing: Unit cost not publicly disclosed

Procurement snapshot

Availability & export

Russian state channel

Rosoboronexport monopoly; Western sanctions exposure and payment/logistics risk for many buyers.

Channel: Rosoboronexport (state)

Fielded & proven

Widely fielded · 20 operators

In service since 1998. Status: active.

Lifecycle cost (est.)

No public unit price to model from. Why so few systems publish one →

Interoperability

No standardised NATO calibre / datalink detected in public specs.

Derived guidance from public data, export regime by country of origin, lifecycle from the GAO ~30% acquisition rule. Verify eligibility, pricing and offsets with the manufacturer and your acquisition authority.

Full specifications

Performance

Speed, range, altitude and engagement capability.

Performance specifications
Max speed (Mach) Maximum speed as a multiple of the speed of sound. Mach 2+ is typical for air-superiority fighters.	0.75 Mach Stronger than 13% of missiles
Range Maximum distance: ferry range for aircraft, operational range for vehicles, maximum engagement distance for missiles. Higher means more standoff or persistence.	10 km Stronger than 20% of missiles

Firepower

Armament, payload and guidance.

Firepower specifications
Warhead Warhead mass. Heavier generally means larger effect radius, at the cost of range.	10 kg Stronger than 23% of missiles
Warhead type Blast-fragmentation, shaped charge (HEAT), penetrator, thermobaric or nuclear-capable.	Tandem-charge HEAT (thermobaric variant available)
Guidance How the weapon finds its target: inertial, GPS/GLONASS, active/semi-active radar, infrared, laser, TV, wire.	Laser beam-riding SACLOS

Physical

Dimensions, weight and crew.

Physical specifications
Length Overall length including gun/probe where applicable.	1.2 m
Combat weight Fully loaded weight. Lighter eases transport and bridging limits; heavier often means more armor.	27 kg

Propulsion

Engine, power and fuel.

Propulsion specifications
Propulsion type Turbofan, turboshaft, diesel, gas turbine, solid-fuel rocket, ramjet…	Solid-fuel rocket

Program

Cost, production scale and operators.

Program specifications
Operator countries Number of countries operating the system. More operators means broader support ecosystem.	20 Stronger than 84% of missiles

Specifications compiled from public KBP Instrument Design Bureau and reference sources ↗. Published defense figures are approximations, treat comparisons as directional. Last verified 2026-07-02.

Compare with rivals

See how it stacks up

Missile

9M133 Kornet AGM-86 ALCM

Boeing AGM-86 ALCM

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Missile

9M133 Kornet AIM-7 Sparrow

Raytheon (RTX) AIM-7 Sparrow

View AIM-7 Sparrow ↗

Missile

9M133 Kornet AGM-88E AARGM

Northrop Grumman AGM-88E AARGM

View AGM-88E AARGM ↗

Head-to-head comparisons

9M133 Kornet vs

FGM-148 Javelin

Frequently asked questions

What is the range of the KBP Instrument Design Bureau 9M133 Kornet? +

The KBP Instrument Design Bureau 9M133 Kornet has a maximum range of 10 km.

How much does the KBP Instrument Design Bureau 9M133 Kornet weigh? +

The KBP Instrument Design Bureau 9M133 Kornet has a combat weight of 27 kg.

What is the KBP Instrument Design Bureau 9M133 Kornet used for? +

The KBP Instrument Design Bureau 9M133 Kornet is a missile typically used for anti armor.

How many countries operate the KBP Instrument Design Bureau 9M133 Kornet? +

The KBP Instrument Design Bureau 9M133 Kornet is operated by 20 countries.

How much does the KBP Instrument Design Bureau 9M133 Kornet cost? +

KBP Instrument Design Bureau 9M133 Kornet: Unit cost not publicly disclosed. Defense program costs are rarely fully public and vary by contract and configuration.