M712 Copperhead.Photo: rbc.ua.
Using the M712 Copperhead
Soldiers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) fired a rare volley of fire using the American M712 Copperhead guided missile during combat operations in the Kursk region. This information was published by the TimeUkraineIsrael portal with reference to Defense Express.
A rare ammunition
There was evidence on social media that the Ukrainian military had used M712 Copperhead 155 mm calibre projectiles guided by a laser beam in one of the episodes of fighting. This was an important moment, as this munition was developed in the United States in the 1970s, making it one of the first members of the guided missile generation.
Objectives and performance
The M712 Copperhead round was used to hit a metal communications tower located east of Suja, requiring three rounds to reach the target. The M777 howitzer, which has already proven its worth on the battlefield, was used to fire the rounds.
Technical specifications
One of the features of the M712 Copperhead is its ability to be guided by a laser beam, which provides a range of 3-16 kilometres. The projectile weighs 62.4 kilograms, making it an effective weapon.
History and use
Serial production of the M712 Copperhead began in 1978, but is currently out of production. The first use of these rounds was by the US Army during Operation Desert Storm, when 90 rounds were fired.
According to publicly available data, as of 1995, the US Armed Forces had about 20,000 of these missiles. In addition, in 2017, Lebanese government forces received “several hundred” M712 Copperheads to fight terrorist groups.
Prospects for use
Defence Express emphasises that it is not yet known where and in what quantity the Ukrainian Defence Forces received this ammunition. However, the use of laser-illuminated guided missiles to engage enemy targets is a promising solution, especially in the context of the active use of Russian electronic warfare.
Mention of Krasnopol
It is worth noting that recently in one of our materials we covered the issue of the use of trophy Russian precision-guided projectiles “Krasnopol” in the Ukrainian Armed Forces. The mention of the Krasnopol is relevant, as there is every reason to believe that the technological solutions used in the development of this projectile could have been borrowed from the American M712 Copperhead.
