Missile Kukri
South African air-to-air missile, Mach 2.4 speed, with a 10 kg warhead. Key figures: range 5 km, top speed 3,000 km/h, warhead 10 kg, in service since 1981. In service with 4 countries — India, Nepal, Singapore and 1 other.
| 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) |
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
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- APR 282026 Updated Description and service entry year updated
- JAN 192026 Updated Description, service status and service entry year added
- JAN 182026 Updated Sources and cross-references refreshed