Observation post "Magura" destroyed: for the first time, laser-guided munitions were used (video).

The "Magura" brigade has used the American projectile M712 Copperhead for the first time. Thanks to the laser guidance of the munition, the 47th OMBr struck a Russian army observation post, reported the Ministry of Defense.

The defense agency emphasizes that since the laser is responsible for guiding the projectile, it ensures uncompromising accuracy in hitting the target.

The enemy target was engaged using the self-propelled artillery system M109 A6 Paladin. In this case, a drone with a laser designator provided guidance for the projectile.

It is noted that American weapons are capable of destroying enemy command posts, ammunition depots, strongholds, and concealed vehicles. Importantly, this system is protected against interference from electronic warfare means.

Projectile M712 Copperhead

The M712 Copperhead is a high-precision guided artillery shell with a caliber of 155 mm, utilizing laser guidance during the terminal phase of its flight. It is designed to destroy fortifications and armored vehicles. Under favorable conditions, the deviation from the target can be no more than a few centimeters.

The projectile is equipped with either a fragmentation or a shaped charge warhead and can be fired from various artillery systems, including the M114, M109, M198, M777, and CAESAR.

The minimum range to the target is at least 3 km, with a maximum range of no more than 16 km.

The first high-precision artillery munition was developed in the United States back in the 1970s, but it was first used during Operation Desert Storm in Iraq in 1991. Production of the shells was halted by the Pentagon in 1990, and shortly after exporting small batches to Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, and Taiwan, it was completely removed from service.

As a reminder, at the end of January, Ukrainian artillery delivered a precision strike with the high-precision M712 Copperhead shell against a concrete fortification of Russian troops in the occupied part of the Kherson region.

Previously, special operations forces used the M712 Copperhead in the Kursk region. Fire was conducted from the M777 howitzer.