The Bulsae ATGM is a family of North Korean (DPRK) anti-tank guided missile (ATGM) systems.
History
editBulsae-2
editNorth Korea is said to have acquired a number of 9K111 Fagot systems in the late 20th century. These were subsequently reverse-engineered and given the designation Bulsae-2.[1]
Bulsae-3
editThe Bulsae-3 was advertised as the AT-4MLB by North Korean proxy company GLOCOM,[failed verification] and in their brochure it was stated that it is controlled by laser beam guidance method,[2][3][4][5] The first international customers of the Bulsae-3 was reported in 2014 to be the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades and the Al-Nasser Salah al-Deen Brigades.[6]
The Chonma-216 variant of the Pokpung-ho main battle tank (MBT) has been seen fitted with Bulsae-3, which a source alleges to have been derived from the AT-14 Spriggan.[7]
The 2020 Cheonma-2 MBT prototype has the Bulsae-3 as secondary armament. It is said to be reversed engineered Soviet/Russian 9K111 Fagot or 9M133 Kornet missiles.[7][8] However, the diameter of the ATGM launchers appears to be 150 mm like the 9M133, rather than 120 mm of the 9K111 and may thus have a higher penetration.[9]
Bulsae-4
editThis section may need to be rewritten to comply with Wikipedia's quality standards. (July 2024) |
The BTR-80 amphibious APC derivative from the DPRK named Chunma-D seems to have been modified by the DPRK to fit a 6x6 chassis.[10][11] Other sources allege the 6x6 chassis is a derivative of the Chinese AFT-10,[12] but this string resolves to[clarification needed] the ATGM HJ-10. This 6x6 chassis can be mounted with two rows of four Bulsae-4, and an example of this vehicle was allegedly seen near Kharkiv as part of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in late July 2024.[13][14] It is claimed that one destroyed a British 155 mm armoured self-propelled AS-90 howitzer.[14] The Bulsae-4 employs "an electro-optical homing head combined with fiber-optic guidance. This technology allows the missile to maneuver around obstacles and hit hidden targets".[14][15][deprecated source]
Bulsae-5
editThe Songun-915 variant of the Pokpung-ho series of tanks has been seen fitted with Bulsae-5, which a source alleges to have been derived from the 9M133 Kornet.[16]
References
edit- ^ "North Korea Country Handbook: Marine Corps Intelligence Activity" (PDF). Fas.org. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2017-07-15.
- ^ Berger, Andrea (14 July 2017). Target Markets: North Korea's Military Customers. Taylor & Francis. ISBN 9781351713009.
- ^ "Glocom is at It Again".
- ^ "Bulsae-2", Military-Today.com, archived from the original on 2023-04-11
- ^ The State of the North Korean Military, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, 18 March 2020, archived from the original on 2021-04-04
- ^ "Oryx Blog on DPRK Arms Exports". Archived from the original on 2017-09-20. Retrieved 2017-09-20.
- ^ a b Trevithick, Joseph; Rogoway, Tyler (12 October 2020). "We Take A Closer Look At North Korea's New Prototype Main Battle Tank". The Drive. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
- ^ "North Korea unveils new Main Battle Tank using design of Russian T-14 Armata". Army Recognition. 11 October 2020. Retrieved 1 March 2021.
- ^ 朝鲜阅兵展示的最新坦克，是个什么水平？_政务_澎湃新闻-The Paper. www.thepaper.cn (in Chinese). Retrieved 2021-09-16.
- ^ "North Korean M-2012 8x8 APC derived from BTR-80".
- ^ "North Korean M-2012 6x6 APC derived from BTR-80".
- ^ "Bulsae-4 M-2018 NLOS ATGM".
- ^ "North Korean missile carrier spotted on Ukrainian battlefield".
- ^ a b c "For the first time, military equipment from North Korea noticed with russians at front. Photo published".
- ^ "North Korean Bulsae-4 Missile System was Reportedly Spotted for First Time in Ukraine".
- ^ "songun-ho". www.massimotessitori.altervista.org. Retrieved 2021-09-16.