Militarnyi reported that Ukrainian Soldiers targeted a military truck that had been carrying Russian-backed separatists. Cited from volunteer Oleksandr Karpyuk, who said that the Ukrainian-made anti-tank missile direct hit an enemy target 3,4 miles (5.6km) away. Volunteer also shares dramatic video showing the moment of attack on the enemy military truck. Javelins are not the only ones, meet Ukrainian Stugna-P anti-tank guided missile system. In the video, two objects are worth noting, Stugna-P and the Ural truck.
The Stugna-P, also known as Skif in export modification, is a Ukrainian anti-tank guided missile (ATGM) system developed by the Luch Design Bureau. Its guidance device (??-?) is developed and manufactured by Belarusian design bureau Peleng based in Minsk. The name literally means “Scythian”. According to Defense Blog, Stugna-P developed by Kyiv-based LUCH design bureau to destroy manpower and stationary and mobile modern armored targets with combined, carried, or monolithic armor including ERA (explosive reactive armor) and also pinpoint targets like weapon emplacements, lightly armored objects and hovered helicopters at any time of day or night. The laser-guided system has a range of 5800 meters and can penetrate armor up to 1100 millimeters thickness.
The Skif consists of a tripod, missile container, PDU-215 remote control panel, guidance device and thermal imager. The PDU-215 control panel is a briefcase-like laptop with a control panel, containing a small joystick and a flat-screen display to assist the missile’s guidance. Two firing modes are available: manual, and fire-and-forget. Fire-and-forget provides automatic control of the missile flight using a targeting laser beam. The PDU-215 allows the control of the unit from up to 50 meters away (with a wire channel). A three to four-person team is optimal for deploying the Skif, operators require specially-made backpacks. Once the missile is fired, the operator controls the Skif and corrects the aim when necessary, by using the joystick on the remote control.
The system comes complete with 130mm and 152mm caliber missiles in transport and launching containers. Tandem charge HEAT RK-2S warheads might be able to counter medium weight main battle tanks such as the T-90A with penetration of 800mm behind ERA. RK-2M-K warheads might be able to counter heavy main battle tanks such as M1 Abrams with their penetration of 1100mm behind ERA. The system also includes HE-fragmentation RK-2OF and RK-2?-OF warheads to attack infantry positions and light armored vehicles. The system can use all four types of missiles without requiring modification. The system has a thermal imager for use during night operations.
