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
10
km range
0.75
Mach
10
kg warhead
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.
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.
- Max speed (Mach)
Maximum speed as a multiple of the speed of sound. Mach 2+ is typical for air-superiority fighters.
- 0.75 Mach Bottom 10% 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 18% of missiles
Firepower
Armament, payload and guidance.
- Warhead
Warhead mass. Heavier generally means larger effect radius, at the cost of range.
- 10 kg Stronger than 21% 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.
- 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 type
Turbofan, turboshaft, diesel, gas turbine, solid-fuel rocket, ramjet…
- Solid-fuel rocket
Program
Cost, production scale and operators.
- Operator countries
Number of countries operating the system. More operators means broader support ecosystem.
- 20 Stronger than 82% 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.
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Lockheed Martin AGM-114 Hellfire 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.
