[finnman69]

One soldier with the 3rd Infantry Division, a loader on a tank, was killed on Monday. Also two tanks and one Bradley fighting vehicle with the division's 3rd Regiment, 7th Cavalry Squadron were destroyed by anti-armored missiles. Officers here believe the missile may be a new Russian variant, known as a Cornet, purchased despite United Nations sanctions on arms sales to Iraq.

first reference I have seen to anti-tank missiles.

Kornet (AT-14)

http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/russia/at-14.htm

In October 1994, the KPB Instrument Design Bureau introduced the Kornet (AT-14) ATGM system. The Kornet was developed introducing a laser beam-riding missile with automatic command-to-line of sight (SACLOS) guidance. The operator simply has to keep the sight on the target to ensure a hit. The laser beam-riding system is also less vulnerable to countermeasures. The Kornet was specifically designed to replace the Konkurs, which has been in service with the former Soviet and Russian armies for over twenty years.

The Kornet, which has a claimed ability to penetrate 1100 to 1200 millimeters of steel armor protected by explosive armor, provided a formidable antitank weapon system. However, even with the improved capabilities the Kornet has over earlier systems, an ATGM with all-weather, day or night, immunity to countermeasures, and fire and forget capabilities was still highly desired.

[L,TOWM]

>>>>which has a claimed ability to penetrate 1100 to 1200 millimeters of steel armor protected by explosive armor<<<<<

1100 mm of armor, works out to 43 inches and change (at 25.4 mm per inch). I sense some serious POO or Putin in the air here...

[tomahawk]

So, the Russians violated UN sanctions and are supplying the Iraqis with new, prohibited weapons.

Time to start arming the Chechen rebels.

[RicocheT]

Was the tank that was hit an M1A1? Is this Kornet missile able to defeat its armor? If so, ouch!

[jdege]

The fight around Najaf — which lasted more than 36 hours — has considerably slowed the division's march northwards,

We fight them where they are, not where we expected to be.

As the saying goes, "don't fight the plan, fight the enemy."

[mad puppy]

Your post would certain help explain why the Russians don't want the US going to war with Iraq....we're going to be able to prove that they've been selling banned weapons. Now the only other questions are: what else did they sell? who else has been selling stuff (F'n France, of course)? how many have been sold?

Just what til the UN finds out, why, they may pass a resolution...oh my.