Krasnopol (Weapon)

The Krasnopol is a 152/155 mm cannon-launched, fin-stabilized, semi-automatic laser-guided, explosive projectile intended to engage hard point targets such as tanks, SP howitzers or other high-value targets.

The Krasnopol complex is intended to hit small ground targets with a shot from artillery systems of 152mm caliber (D20, 2S3 Akatsiya, 2S19 (Msta-S), 2A65 (Msta-B) or from artillery systems of 155mm caliber (M109 A2/A6 (USA), G5, G6 (Republic of South Africa), FH77B (Sweden), TRF1 (France) and others) when targets are marked with a laser designator/rangefinder. The laser designation system has a range of 5 kilometers, while the projectile itself has a range of 20 kilometers. [Jane's Ammunition Handbook 1994, p. 210, Alexandria: Jane's Information Group Inc., 1993. ISBN 0-7106-1167-6.]

As distinct from conventional standard artillery projectiles which engage area targets, the Krasnopol ensures destruction of individual targets from covered fire positions by a single shot without fire adjustment. The Krasnopol is capable of hitting targets moving at speeds up to 36 kilometers per hour.

The Krasnopol carries a 20.5 kilogram high-explosive fragmentation warhead. The entire missile weighs 50 kilograms.

ee also

*KITOLOV-2M
*M712 Copperhead
*XM982 Excalibur
*KBP Instrument Design Bureau

Citations

External links

*http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/land/row/krasnopol.htm
*http://www.defense-update.com/products/k/krasnopol-kitolov.htm
*http://www.izhmash.ru/eng/product/krasnopol.shtml