Ukrainian army uses rare Copperhead shells in Kursk region - Defense Express
Illustrative photo: Ukraine could have received Copperhead shells (Flickr by Kelly Michals)
Ukrainian defenders likely used the rare guided shell Copperhead during battles in the Kursk region. It was produced in the United States in the 1970s, according to Defense Express.
The agency notes that the M712 Copperhead is a representative of the first generation of guided shells, making its appearance in modern combat "unexpected."
According to media reports, Ukrainian defenders employed the M712 Copperhead to target a metal communication tower located east of Sudzha. Three such shells were used for the strike, launched from M777 howitzers.
Defense Express states that the M712 Copperhead is guided to its target using a laser beam. Its effective range is up to 16 kilometers, and it weighs 62.4 kilograms.
Serial production of the shells began in 1978, and they are no longer manufactured. Data available indicates that there were up to 20,000 M712 Copperhead shells in the US as of 1995. Additionally, in 2017, information emerged regarding the transfer of several hundred munitions to the Lebanese army.
Shells for Ukraine
At the beginning of 2024, Ukraine faced significant issues with ammunition shortages. The main reason was the suspension of aid from the US, as Congress was unable to allocate funding for this purpose.
However, the situation with artillery has since improved. As sources told RBC-Ukraine in June, the gap in artillery fire between Ukraine and Russia has decreased from 1:7 to 1:3.
