TAipers
South Korean anti-tank guided missile
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The TAipers (Tank Snipers), or Cheongeom (Heavenly Sword; Korean: 천검; Hanja: 天劍) is an air-launched anti-tank guided missile (ATGM) developed by the Agency for Defense Development (ADD) and manufactured by Hanwha Aerospace. The missile has two modes. The fire-and-forget mode autonomously guides the missile using a dual-mode seeker that combines visible and infrared homing imagery.[6] The Artificial intelligence (AI) algorithm of the missile system was trained with deep learning on more than 800,000 frames of potential targets. The fire-and-update mode allows the operator to guide the missile from the launch vehicle though fiber-optic datalink.[4][7]
| TAipers | |
|---|---|
TAipers missile on display at ADEX 2023 | |
| Type | Anti-tank guided missile |
| Place of origin | South Korea |
| Service history | |
| In service | 2024–present[1] |
| Used by | Republic of Korea Army[1] Republic of Korea Marine Corps[2] |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Agency for Defense Development |
| Designed | 2015–2022[2] |
| Manufacturer | Hanwha Aerospace[3] |
| Produced | 2024–present[4] |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | Missile: 35 kilograms (77 lb) Launch pad: 9 kilograms (20 lb)[5] |
| Length | Missile: 1,735 millimeters (5 ft 8.3 in) Launch pad: 1,855 millimeters (6 ft 1.0 in)[5] |
| Diameter | 150 millimeters (5.9 in)[2] |
| Effective firing range | 8 km (5.0 mi)[5] |
| Maximum firing range | 10 km (6.2 mi)[5] |
| Warhead | Tandem-charge HEAT[2] |
| Blast yield | 1,000 mm (39 in) RHA[4][5] |
| Propellant | Smokeless solid-propellant[4] |
| Maximum speed | 200 m/s (720 km/h; 450 mph; Mach 0.59)[4] |
Guidance system | Fire-and-forget dual-mode seeker with fiber-optic datalink MITL[4] |
Launch platform | LAH-1 Miron MAH Marineon |
TAipers was introduced as the primary armament of the Republic of Korea Army LAH-1 Miron armed helicopter, which began service in December 2024.[1]
Development
The TAipers was developed to replace air-launched TOW missiles in the inventory of the ROK Armed Forces but could be exported. It was presented to potential customers at the Black Sea Defense & Aerospace 2024. The cost of development is KRW724.8 billion (USD550.5 million).[8]
Launch platforms
- LAH-1 Miron armed helicopter[1]
- MAH Marineon attack helicopter[2]
- ground vehicles[9]
Specifications
- Mass: 35 kg (77 lb)
- Length: 1,735 mm (5.692 ft)
- Diameter: 150 mm (5.9 in)
- Effective range: 8 km (5.0 mi)
- Maximum range: 10 km (6.2 mi)
- Maximum speed: 200 m/s (720 km/h; 450 mph; Mach 0.59)
- Warhead: Tandem-charge HEAT
- Propellant: Smokeless solid-propellant
- Guidance: INS/Fiber-optic datalink MITL (midcourse guidance), IIR/Fire-and-forget (terminal guidance)
Variants
- TAipers-L: Light variant of the TAipers. Intended primarily for ground platforms. Maximum range has been reduced to 5,500 m (3.4 mi).[10]
Operators
Current operators
See also
- Spike ER – (Israel)
