The Bulsae ATGM is a family of North Korean (DPRK) anti-tank guided missile (ATGM) systems.
North Korea is said to have acquired a number of 9K111 Fagot systems in the late 20th century. These were subsequently reverse-engineered and given the designation Bulsae-2.[1]
The Bulsae-3 was advertised as the AT-4MLB by North Korean proxy company GLOCOM, and in their brochure it was stated that it is controlled by laser beam guidance method,[2] [3] The first international customers of the Bulsae-3 was reported in 2014 to be the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades and the Al-Nasser Salah al-Deen Brigades.[4]
The Chonma-216 variant of the Pokpung-ho main battle tank (MBT) has been seen fitted with Bulsae-3, which a source alleges to have been derived from the AT-14 Spriggan.
The 2020 Cheonma-2 MBT prototype has the Bulsae-3 as secondary armament. It is said to be reversed engineered Soviet/Russian 9K111 Fagot or 9M133 Kornet missiles.[5] [6] However, the diameter of the ATGM launchers appears to be 150 mm like the 9M133, rather than 120 mm of the 9K111 and may thus have a higher penetration.[7]
The BTR-80 amphibious APC derivative from the DPRK named Chunma-D seems to have been modified by the DPRK to fit a 6x6 chassis.[8] [9] Other sources allege the 6x6 chassis is a derivative of the Chinese AFT-10,[10] but this string resolves to the ATGM HJ-10. This 6x6 chassis can be mounted with two rows of four Bulsae-4, and an example of this vehicle was allegedly seen near Kharkiv as part of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in late July 2024.[11] It is claimed that one destroyed a British 155 mm armoured self-propelled AS-90 howitzer.[12] The Bulsae-4 employs "an electro-optical homing head combined with fiber-optic guidance. This technology allows the missile to maneuver around obstacles and hit hidden targets".[12] [13]
The Songun-915 variant of the Pokpung-ho series of tanks has been seen fitted with Bulsae-5, which a source alleges to have been derived from the 9M133 Kornet.[14]