The 47th Separate Mechanized Brigade Magura used the American M712 Copperhead shell for the first time. Thanks to its laser guidance system, Brigade successfully struck a russian army observation post, the Ministry of Defense reported.
As emphasized by the defense ministry, since the shell is guided by a laser, it ensures uncompromising accuracy in hitting targets.
Read more: Ukrainian Forces Use M712 Copperhead, 1970s American Guided Shell, Near Kursk
The 47th Mechanized Brigade has used the M712 Copperhead for the first time.How does it work?⁰✅ Laser-guided for uncompromising accuracy⁰✅ Wipes out enemy HQs, ammo depots, strongpoints, and hidden vehicles⁰✅ Most importantly—jamming-proof. No escape for the occupier pic.twitter.com/J3yFd1B9SO— Defense of Ukraine (@DefenceU) February 15, 2025
The strike on the enemy position was carried out using the M109A6 Paladin self-propelled artillery system. At the same time, a drone with a laser designator provided guidance for the shell to hit the target.
It is noted that the American weapon destroys enemy command posts, ammunition depots, strongholds, and concealed vehicles. Most importantly, this system is resistant to interference from electronic warfare measures.
The M712 Copperhead has a range of 3 to 16 kilometers, a soldier in the field has to designate the target with a laser pointer to achieve the precision-guided effect. The weight of the projectile is 62.4 kilograms, or almost 138 pounds.
Defense Express emphasizes that it's currently unknown where the Ukrainian Defense Forces could have obtained the M712 Copperhead from or how many. Nonetheless, the very option of using these guided munitions to strike down russian forces offers its own utility, especially considering russia's active use of electronic warfare systems, hindering with GPS-guided shells yet useless against laser-beam navigation.
Read more: Ukraine to Receive 6,000 Kamikaze Drones from Germany—Analogs of the russian Lancet
