Ukrainian Special Forces recently shared their experience using American high-precision Copperhead missiles, equipped with laser guidance, in a mission in the Kursk region.
This information, revealed through leaked documents from Ukraine’s Special Operations Forces (SSO), was shared on Russian Telegram channels.
The report details how SSO teams used M712 Copperhead artillery rounds from early August to September.
Developed in the 1970s, the M712 Copperhead is a specialized 155mm shell that relies on laser guidance for pinpoint accuracy.
It can be used with standard 155mm howitzers and has a range of 3 to 16 kilometers. These shells were once widely used by the U.S., notably in the Iraq war, but production stopped in the 1990s.
The SSO team’s mission was to identify and target structures to test the Copperhead’s precision and impact. They used the LEONARDO Type 163 laser target designator to guide the projectile.
Their team included:
Group Commander
Laser Targeting (LCV) Operator
Communications Operator
Cover Operator
Meanwhile, three backup operators stayed behind, ready to assist if needed. After setting up near the frontline and coordinating with an artillery unit equipped with M777 howitzers, the team used a preset code to sync the laser designator with the Copperhead rounds.
The first missile hit its target, and a second hit followed, partially damaging the structure.
However, the cumulative warhead’s explosive type limited the destruction to a degree. A third shot missed the target due to a damaged guidance lens, which affected its accuracy.
