Bulsae-4

Bulsae-4
TypeAnti-tank guided missile
Place of originNorth Korea
Service history
Used byNorth Korea
Russia
WarsRusso-Ukrainian war
Production history
Designed2010 (combat vehicle)
2018 (missile)
ManufacturerNorth Korea
Specifications
Operational
range
10–25 km (6.2–15.5 mi)
Guidance
system
Electro-optical seeker combined with command guidance
Launch
platform
Armoured launcher
Pickup truck launcher

The Bulsae-4[a] (Korean: 불새-4; lit. 'Phoenix-4') is a North Korean anti-tank guided missile.

Description

The Bulsae-4 is considered to be the "most advanced anti-tank weapon systems in the world", according to North Korean state media.[2] It bears external similarities to Israel's Spike[1] and also possesses technological features similar to United States's FGM-148 Javelin and China's HJ-10.[3] It features non-line-of-sight (NLOS) attack capability,[4] allowing Bulsae-4 to be used from cover. However, it relies on reconnaissance drones to spot targets.[5] Bulsae-4 uses electro-optical seeker combined with command guidance, allowing the missile to be controlled using video signal, optical cable or radio connection. Its range is estimated to be 10–25 km (6.2–15.5 mi).[6]

Bulsae-4 is designed as a module weapon system that can be mounted on a 6x6 armoured vehicle,[7] or a six-tube pickup truck chassis. A shoulder-mounted variant is also under development.[3] The 6x6 wheeled combat vehicle is based on the M-2010 armored personnel carrier,[8] estimated to be 7.65 m (25.1 ft) long and 2.9 m (9 ft 6 in) wide. It can accommodate up to eight missile tubes.[9]

According to North Korea, the Bulsae-4, which is officially called "tactical guided weapon", has sufficient military value to replace multiple rocket launchers. It is planned to be deployed within key military units in the Korean People's Army starting from the first half of 2026.[10]

History

The combat vehicle of Bulsae-4 was introduced in 2010.[9] Around 2018, the missile was introduced. Since then, Bulsae-4 has been displayed in military parades and exhibitions.[8]

Mass production

It was reported that Bulsae-4 has entered mass production.[11] During an inspection in a munition factory on 3 January 2026,[10][12] North Korean leader Kim Jong Un ordered to expanded production of Bulsae-4 by 2.5 times.[13]

Combat use in Ukraine

The Bulsae-4 is reported to be used during Russian invasion of Ukraine.[14] In August 2024, it was first spotted in Ukraine,[7] as an image captured from a Ukrainian drone purportedly showed a Bulsae-4 vehicle operating near Kharkiv.[15]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Western analysts has called Bulsae-4 as Spike Kim, a mocking nickname for this missile.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b Thu Thủy (9 August 2024). "Khám phá hệ thống tên lửa chống tăng cực kỳ lợi hại mà Triều Tiên cung cấp cho Nga" [Discover the extremely potent anti-tank missile system that North Korea supplied to Russia]. VietTimes (in Vietnamese). Retrieved 9 January 2026.
  2. ^ Cousin, Victor (6 January 2026). "Guerre en Ukraine : « l'un des missiles les plus avancés », qu'est-ce que le système nord-coréen Bulsae-4 utilisé par les Russes ?" [War in Ukraine: "One of the most advanced missiles," what is the North Korean Bulsae-4 system used by the Russians?]. Le Parisien (in French). Retrieved 9 January 2026.
  3. ^ a b Tuệ Nhân (7 January 2026). "Triều Tiên sản xuất hàng loạt tên lửa diệt tăng Bulsae-4 tầm bắn gấp đôi Javelin" [North Korea is mass-producing Bulsae-4 anti-tank missiles with twice the range of the Javelin]. Báo Lâm Đồng (in Vietnamese). Báo và phát thanh, truyền hình Lâm Đồng. Retrieved 9 January 2026.
  4. ^ "North Korea is mass-producing Bulsae-4 missiles, which are capable of striking targets deep within the roof". Báo Nghệ An. Báo và phát thanh, truyền hình Nghệ An. 7 January 2026. Retrieved 9 January 2026.
  5. ^ Abrams, A. B. (6 August 2024). "North Korea Closes Russia's Anti-Tank Missile Gap With Ukraine". The Diplomat. Retrieved 9 January 2026.
  6. ^ Đào Cảnh (28 August 2025). "Bí mật công nghệ tên lửa chống tăng Bulsae-4: Vũ khí thay đổi cục diện xung đột Nga-Ukraine" [Technology secrets of Bulsae-4 ATGM: The weapon that can change the situation of Russo-Ukrainian conflict]. VietNamNet (in Vietnamese). Retrieved 15 September 2025.
  7. ^ a b Xuân Minh (6 January 2026). "Tên lửa 'bắn rồi quên' của Triều Tiên trưởng thành từ chiến trường Ukraine" [North Korea's 'fire-and-forget' missiles matured on the battlefields of Ukraine]. Sức khỏe và Đời sống (in Vietnamese). Retrieved 9 January 2026.
  8. ^ a b Weichert, Brandon J. (27 August 2025). "How North Korea's Bulsae-4 Is Redefining Anti-Tank Attacks Against Ukraine". Center for the National Interest. Retrieved 9 January 2026.
  9. ^ a b "Bulsae 4 (M-2018) North Korean 6x6 Anti-Tank Guided Missile (ATGM) Combat Vehicle". OE Data Integration Network. United States Army. 20 December 2024. Retrieved 9 January 2026.
  10. ^ a b "Triều Tiên mở rộng năng lực sản xuất vũ khí dẫn đường chiến thuật" [North Korea to expand production of tactical guided weapon]. Quảng Ngãi TV (in Vietnamese). Quang Ngai Newspaper and Radio, Television. 5 January 2026. Retrieved 9 January 2026.
  11. ^ Nguyễn Tám (5 January 2026). "Triều Tiên đưa Bulsae 4 vào sản xuất hàng loạt" [North Korea puts Bulsae-4 into mass production]. Một Thế Giới (in Vietnamese). Retrieved 9 January 2026.
  12. ^ "Respected Comrade Kim Jong Un Visits Major Munitions Factory". Korean Central News Agency. 4 January 2026. Retrieved 7 January 2026.
  13. ^ Bạch Dương (6 January 2026). "Triều Tiên tăng gấp 2,5 lần sản lượng tên lửa chống tăng Bulsae-4" [North Korea has increased its production of Bulsae-4 anti-tank missiles by 2.5 times]. An ninh Thủ đô (in Vietnamese). Retrieved 9 January 2026.
  14. ^ Newdick, Thomas (13 January 2025). "North Korean Air Defense System Revealed In Ukraine By Russian Friendly Fire Strike". The War Zone. Retrieved 9 January 2026.
  15. ^ Manley, Cameron (1 August 2024). "A North Korean anti-tank missile vehicle appears to be operating near Ukraine. It may be the 1st armored vehicle Pyongyang has sent Russia". Business Insider. Retrieved 9 January 2026.
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