Missile 9K111 Fagot (AT-4 Spigot)

Development of the 9K111 Fagot commenced in 1962 to provide infantry and vehicle units with a portable anti-tank guided missile system. It was developed in parallel with the 9M113 Konkurs, utilizing shared technological foundations and launch platforms. The system entered official service in 1970.

The 9K111 is a second-generation, tube-launched, wire-guided system utilizing semi-automatic command to line of sight (SACLOS) guidance. The operator tracks the target through a 10x magnification sight while the launcher tracks an infrared bulb on the missile's rear to transmit course corrections via wire. The system is deployed from a tripod-based launcher post or vehicle mounts, including the BMP-1P, BTR-D, and UAZ-469. A gas generator expels the missile from the tube, followed by the ignition of a solid fuel motor. This launch method allows for direct-fire trajectories and reduces the engagement deadzone. The system engages moving targets, and the launcher post provides 360-degree horizontal traverse. Warhead options consist of High-Explosive Anti-Tank (HEAT) charges. The 9M111M Faktoriya variant utilizes an improved motor and a HEAT warhead with increased armor penetration. Night operations are supported by optional thermal imaging sights.

The system is widely deployed and forms the basis of anti-tank squads within motor rifle battalions. It has been exported to numerous nations in Eastern Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Southeast Asia, including Greece, Algeria, Iran, and Vietnam. North Korea produced a reverse-engineered version designated the Bulsae-2, with later iterations reportedly utilizing laser guidance. The 9K111 has seen combat use in conflicts including the Soviet-Afghan War, the Iran-Iraq War, the Syrian Civil War, and the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. It is currently employed by both Russian and Ukrainian forces. Non-state actors, including Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Free Syrian Army, also operate the system. Integration into vehicle platforms includes the BMP-2 and Boragh.