Ukraine's game-changer: Copperhead strikes Russian tanks
The Ukrainian armed forces are utilizing advanced M712 Copperhead laser-guided ammunition to conduct precise attacks on Russian armoured vehicles. They've employed it for several weeks, but confirmation has only recently emerged. The Pentagon supplied this weapon as part of a support package to enhance Ukraine's artillery fire effectiveness on the battlefield.
According to Defence Romania, reports from a Ukrainian special unit suggest that the use of Copperheads during operations in Russia's Kursk region demonstrated the missile's high effectiveness. Documents detailing their use, dated from early August to September 2024, leaked to Russian social media, revealing that Ukrainian forces had already deployed this technology by then. Ukrainian soldiers commended the Copperheads' effectiveness in accurately destroying Russian tanks and other combat vehicles, facilitating the elimination of priority targets on the front lines.
M712 Copperhead in Ukrainian hands
The M712 Copperhead is an anti-tank, laser-guided 155 mm artillery shell developed in the United States during the 1970s by Martin Marietta. The incorporation of laser guidance technology in Copperheads significantly enhanced artillery precision, a milestone during the Cold War era.
These shells can strike a target marked by a laser beam emitted by ground operators, drones, or helicopters, allowing for highly accurate destruction of selected targets with minimal risk of collateral damage.
Copperheads have a range from 3 to 16 kilometres and are compatible with conventional 155 mm howitzers. Their operational mechanism features an active guidance system—the shell scans the designated laser target and adjusts its trajectory to accurately hit the marked object. Although production of these shells ceased years ago, the United States has maintained stockpiles to address future conflicts.
