The new Ukrainian-designed CORAL air defense system is capable of shooting down ballistic missiles with a range of up to 40 km
The main priorities of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine for 2024 include strengthening Ukraine’s air defense shield, including the production of CORAL air defense missile systems. Deputy Minister of Defense of Ukraine Lieutenant General Ivan Havryliuk said that the main tasks for 2024 include building up the defense industry and increasing the production of missiles, ammunition, weapons and military equipment. The priorities include strengthening Ukraine’s air defense shield.
According to Ivan Havryliuk, the main attention will be paid to air defense systems – from conventional man-portable air defense systems to air defense systems with a range of more than 100 km, such as the CORAL air defense system.
Promin Design Bureau started working on the project back in 2016. For the first time, the model of the Coral guided anti-aircraft missile was demonstrated in 2021 along with other products of the state-owned enterprise.
According to Oleg Korostelev, Director General of Promin State Design Bureau, CORAL’s peculiarity is that it uses proven and tested components. The Promin Design Bureau developed a line of anti-aircraft missile systems with ranges of 10; 30-40; 100 km.
Characteristics of the missile:
- flight range – 30-40 kilometers;
- length – 4.33 meters;
- maximum diameter – 260 mm
- weight – 300 kg, of which 25 are for the combat unit;
- flight altitude – 10 kilometers;
Due to its unified design, CORAL can be used from land and sea platforms, including attachment to aircraft as an air-to-air missile.
The ground version of CORAL corresponds to the concept of a “light” mobile air defense system of “small-medium” range. SAMs can be used to cover specific objects, such as air bases, ports, and industrial centers.
The missile can be used as an air-to-air missile due to its low weight and length. For example, the missile for the Su-27, depending on the version, weighs up to 350 kilograms and is up to 4.8 meters long. When integrated with a fighter jet, the missile’s range increases.
“CORAL” is capable of destroying any aerodynamic targets, such as helicopters, airplanes, drones. This missile can be used against ballistic missiles, ground or surface targets.
