History of Russian Fire and forget ATGMs

June 07, 2025

History of Russian Fire and forget ATGMs

History of Russian Fire And Forget ATGMs

There's two forms of fire and forget ATGMs.

(Or 4th Generation like Javelin, Spike, HJ-9A, etc)

1. True F&F. So example is Kh-39 which uses infrared imaging homing.

2. Quasi F&F. There's two kinds, there's the Vilkha-1 and Kornet-EM which use a basic tracker in the missile connected to an ACLOS system in the designator, the launcher automatically tracks the target and if lock is broke then the missiles internal tracking system linked by data link or using an INS aim for the target or its last known position. Lastly there is stuff like Khrizantema and Hermes that have similar systems as above but with back up secondary targeting that takes over after certain distance or if lock from designator is broken.

The first Soviet fire and forget ATGM was the 9P149R ATGM Carrier in the mid 80s which utilised radar guided ACLOS with Konkurs-R Missiles with an automatic target tracking system in the Missile.

Vikhr-1 made in 90s utilises an automatic target tracker in seeker allowing ACLOS and would be the first mass produced 4th Generation ATGM.

There is the Khrizantema in late 90s for ground vehicles and aircraft which uses radar guided ACLOS with an INS.

There is the Kornet-EM for vehicles and troops made in 2000s which utilised an automatic target tracker allowing ACLOS.

There is the LMUR Prototypes in early 2000s that evolved into Kh-39.

There is the Hermes missile in 2010s for ground vehicle and aircraft which use laser beam riding with automatic tracker and a back up ARH for fire and forget.

There is the Kh-39 in late 2010s for attack helicopters which use infrared homing and are fully fire and forget with MITL technology and 3rd Generation Microbolometers.