September25, 2008:
Turkey is buying 80 Russian
Kornet E anti-tank systems. This is a laser guided missile with a range of
5,500 meters (during the day), or 3,500 meters (at night). The launcher has a
thermal sight for use at night or in fog. The missile's warhead can penetrate
1200 mm of armor, which means that the side armor of modern tanks would be
vulnerable, but not the front armor. The missile weighs 18 pounds and the
launcher 42 pounds. The system was introduced in 1994 and has been sold to
Syria (who apparently passed them on to Hezbollah for the 2006 war). In
Lebanon, the Kornet proved more useful fired against Israeli troops in
buildings.
Turkey is
paying $70 million for 80 launchers and 800 missiles. Deliveries will begin
next year.