At the MILEX-2025 international arms exhibition, a major development in anti-tank warfare was revealed on the sidelines of the event. A representative from Russia’s High Precision Systems, a subsidiary of the state-owned defense giant Rostec, announced a significant upgrade to the Kornet-EM anti-tank guided missile (ATGM) system: a new control mechanism that allows a single crew to remotely operate up to three launchers simultaneously. This enhancement stands to reshape the battlefield utility of Russian ATGM units by bolstering their flexibility, lethality, and survivability.
The Kornet-EM, an evolution of the 9M133 Kornet series, is already considered one of the most potent systems in Russia’s export arsenal. Designed for deployment against heavily armored targets such as main battle tanks (MBTs), fortified positions, and low-flying aerial threats like helicopters and drones, the system has seen combat use across a wide array of conflicts. With this latest upgrade, it may now represent a serious shift in how anti-tank warfare is conducted.
Traditionally, ATGM setups have required separate crews for each launcher, limiting the flexibility of operators to respond to multi-directional threats. The new control system upends that limitation. By allowing a single console to manage three different launchers, crews can now deploy their systems to cover a much wider field of fire. This enhances their ability to react quickly and precisely to threats from various vectors without physically relocating the equipment.
According to the High Precision Systems representative, each launcher can be strategically placed to secure different sectors, enabling a kind of anti-armor crossfire capability not previously possible with a single team. This advancement doesn’t just streamline operations; it reduces the manpower footprint needed to cover a given area and offers crucial tactical advantages in dynamic combat scenarios.
In addition to multi-launcher control, the new Kornet-EM systems are remotely operable. Operators can control the launchers from concealed or fortified positions using upgraded electric drive mechanisms that retrofit onto existing manual systems with no structural changes. This design choice prioritizes crew safety in environments where precision munitions, reconnaissance drones, and loitering munitions are omnipresent.
The capability to remain hidden while engaging enemy targets can dramatically enhance survivability. Modern battlefields—especially in conflicts like those in Ukraine or Syria—have proven especially lethal for exposed infantry and vehicle crews. The shift to remote-controlled ATGM deployment reflects a broader trend toward automation and survivability in contemporary military doctrine.
The Kornet-EM’s specifications remain formidable. It employs laser beam-riding guidance to deliver its tandem high-explosive anti-tank (HEAT) warheads with high precision. Capable of reaching 10 kilometers against ground targets and 8 kilometers against aerial threats, its missiles are engineered to defeat even the most advanced armor, including those equipped with explosive reactive armor (ERA).
This iteration can also fire two missiles in rapid succession at a single target. This capability is particularly important against modern MBTs outfitted with active protection systems (APS) such as the Israeli Trophy or Russia’s own Arena-M, which are designed to intercept incoming threats. Rapid dual-missile engagement increases the probability of a successful hit by saturating APS defenses.
The Kornet-EM has been integrated into various platforms, including the Tigr 4×4 light armored vehicle and the BMD-4M airborne combat vehicle. This makes it suitable for deployment across a wide range of environments—from open rural terrain to dense urban landscapes. The new control system builds on this versatility, enabling broader engagement zones even from static or concealed positions.
In a defensive posture, a Kornet-EM team could now establish a kill zone over multiple roads, fields, or chokepoints with minimal repositioning. In urban environments, the ability to simultaneously monitor and engage multiple intersections or entry points without exposing the crew significantly enhances operational security.
To fully appreciate the Kornet-EM’s potential, it’s worth contrasting it with Western ATGM systems. The U.S.-made FGM-148 Javelin, widely used by NATO forces, offers fire-and-forget capability with infrared homing, allowing operators to immediately relocate after firing. However, its range is limited to approximately 2.5 to 4.5 kilometers.
Israel’s Spike series, which includes both fire-and-forget and guided modes, pushes engagement ranges to 8 kilometers in some versions and features advanced electro-optical sensors. But the Spike system’s complexity and cost can be prohibitive for many buyers.
The Kornet-EM, by contrast, sticks to simpler, more rugged laser guidance while offering a competitive range and payload. The new multi-launcher capability, combined with its affordability, strengthens its position in the global arms market.
The Kornet series has a long history of combat usage. During the 2003 Iraq War, Iraqi forces used Kornet-E systems to damage U.S. M1 Abrams tanks. In Syria, it has been employed extensively by government forces and rebel groups alike, targeting a wide variety of armored vehicles. In Ukraine, Russian sources claim Kornet-EM systems have successfully engaged Western-supplied tanks, although independent verification remains elusive.
These engagements have validated the Kornet’s ability to penetrate advanced armor under real-world conditions. Yet, they also highlight the vulnerabilities of laser-guided systems to environmental conditions and countermeasures.
Despite its strengths, the Kornet-EM’s reliance on laser beam-riding guidance does present some disadvantages. Operators must maintain line-of-sight with the target throughout the missile’s flight, exposing themselves to potential detection. Additionally, smoke, dust, fog, and electronic warfare measures can degrade laser guidance effectiveness.
The ability to control multiple launchers and execute rapid successive strikes is an effort to mitigate these limitations by increasing the saturation level of attacks. But such strategies depend on favorable battlefield conditions and high operator skill levels.
The Kornet-EM’s upgrade aligns with broader military trends favoring networked, semi-automated systems. In modern battle doctrine, integrating various platforms—sensors, drones, radars, and missile systems—into a unified command-and-control network is increasingly essential.
Though Russia has not disclosed detailed specifications, the Kornet-EM’s modular design hints at future potential for integration with battlefield networks. The use of electric drives and retrofitting compatibility suggest a cost-effective, scalable path for modernization across existing inventories.
The choice to unveil this capability at MILEX-2025 in Belarus—a country closely aligned with Moscow—was strategic. The exhibition serves as a venue to attract potential buyers from regions such as Eastern Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. With at least 16 countries already operating Kornet systems, the multi-launcher upgrade adds a new selling point.
Countries like Algeria, India, and Serbia have shown interest in Russian ATGMs due to their reliability and cost-efficiency. The new capability could tip procurement decisions for countries balancing military needs against tight defense budgets.
In a conventional war scenario, such as a major tank assault across open fields, a single Kornet-EM crew could now execute a layered defense. By deploying three launchers at different angles, operators could create overlapping fields of fire to trap advancing armor in a coordinated crossfire.
In hybrid warfare settings—where insurgents or irregular forces may use hit-and-run tactics—the Kornet-EM’s remote and multi-directional engagement capabilities could provide substantial force multiplication. Urban combat, notoriously challenging for anti-tank operations, becomes more manageable when launchers can be pre-positioned and activated from secure locations.
One of the most pressing threats in modern combat is the ubiquity of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Systems like Turkey’s Bayraktar TB2 or Russia’s Lancet drones have been used to devastating effect. The Kornet-EM’s remote operation capability directly addresses this issue by removing the crew from predictable, easily targeted positions.
By relocating operators away from the launchers and into cover, the new system sharply reduces vulnerability to drone strikes and counter-battery fire. This also opens possibilities for coordinated, multi-launcher ambushes without immediate risk to personnel.
Russia’s defense industry, constrained by budget and sanctions, often emphasizes evolutionary rather than revolutionary upgrades. The Kornet-EM’s new control system is emblematic of this philosophy—not a complete technological overhaul, but a meaningful, impactful improvement using existing frameworks.
This pragmatism is also evident in the system’s export orientation. By keeping costs low and compatibility high, Russia positions itself as a supplier of reliable, battle-tested systems to nations that might otherwise struggle to afford high-end Western alternatives.
While the upgraded Kornet-EM represents a leap forward in operational flexibility, questions remain. How well does the system perform under sustained combat conditions with active countermeasures? Can it integrate with real-time targeting data from UAVs or reconnaissance assets? How effective will it be against evolving armor technology and next-generation APS?
Ultimately, the Kornet-EM’s new capabilities highlight the ongoing arms race in anti-armor warfare. Whether it can keep pace with emerging threats will depend on continued innovation, operational feedback, and integration with broader military networks. Russia has delivered a clear message at MILEX-2025: its anti-tank forces are evolving, and the Kornet-EM is poised to play a central role on the battlefields.
