For the first time, Ukrainian forces have deployed M712 Copperhead laser-guided artillery shells in Russia’s Kursk region, targeting Russian positions with surprising precision.
Struck Communications Tower
According to Defense Express, these shells struck a communications tower near Sudzha, with three rounds fired from M777 howitzers reportedly hitting the target effectively.
This new deployment underscores a significant enhancement in Ukraine’s artillery capabilities and presents unique challenges for Russian defenses, according to L'Independent.
The M712 Copperhead is a 155mm artillery round developed by the United States during the Cold War.
Known for its laser-guidance system, it allows for accurate strikes on stationary targets within a range of 3 to 16 kilometers (1.9 to 10 miles).
Production Ended Decades Ago
Measuring about 1.37 meters (4.5 feet) in length and weighing 62.4 kilograms (137.6 pounds), the Copperhead was designed to hit high-value, hardened targets that are traditionally difficult to destroy with standard artillery.
The shell’s laser-guidance technology requires a laser operator to "paint" the target, enabling the Copperhead to detect and strike it with high precision.
Production of the Copperhead shells ended decades ago, making them rare on modern battlefields. In the 1990s, approximately 20,000 rounds remained in U.S. stockpiles.
Although they were phased out of regular use, a few hundred were sent to Lebanon in 2017 to assist in combatting ISIS. Their reappearance in Ukraine shows a renewed interest in using precision-guided munitions for complex battlefield needs.
Using these laser-guided shells allows Ukraine to maximize the impact of its artillery by focusing on critical Russian positions with minimal expenditure of ammunition.
