Missile Kukri
Summary
| Category | Air-to-Air Missiles |
| Sub-type | Infrared-guided air-to-air missile |
| Origin country | 🇿🇦 South Africa |
| Manufacturer | Armscor |
| Status | In service |
| Year of service | 1981 |
Technical specifications
| Warhead | High Explosive |
| Warhead weight | 10 kg (22 lb) |
| Diameter | 127 mm (5.0 in) |
| Span | 530 mm (20.9 in) |
| Length | 2,944 mm (115.9 in) |
| Weight | 73 kg (161 lb) |
| Range | 5.0 km (3.1 mi) |
| Max. speed | 3,000 km/h (Mach 3.0) |
Kukri scale diagram
Operators
Description
The V3 Kukri is a short-range infrared-guided air-to-air missile developed by Armscor and Kentron in South Africa during the 1970s. Designed for use on Mirage F1AZ and Cheetah fighters under the apartheid-era arms embargo, it represented an indigenous capability comparable to early AIM-9 Sidewinder variants.
The missile uses an off-boresight infrared seeker coupled with a helmet-mounted sight, allowing pilots to designate targets by head movement — a feature ahead of its Western contemporaries at the time. It is fitted with a high-explosive fragmentation warhead.
The V3 Kukri entered South African Air Force service in 1981 and was succeeded by the longer-range V3B U-Darter and the modern A-Darter, also developed by Denel Dynamics.
Frequently Asked Questions
What type of missile is the Kukri?
The Kukri is an air-to-air missile developed by South Africa. It entered service in 1981.
What is the range of the Kukri?
The Kukri has a maximum range of approximately 5.0 km (3.1 miles). Effective range varies with launch platform, altitude, and flight profile.
How fast is the Kukri?
The Kukri reaches a maximum speed of 3,000 km/h (Mach 2.4).
What warhead does the Kukri carry?
The Kukri carries a high explosive warhead weighing 10 kg.
Which countries use the Kukri?
The Kukri is in service with 4 countries: United Kingdom, India, Nepal, and 1 other countries.
Wikipedia (CC BY-SA) and other open sources.
Suggest a change