The Soviet missile that traded complex maneuvers for high-speed precision

Wars & Conflicts · Published 16 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: In the 1960s, the Soviet Union sought a weapon that could be operated by a single soldier with minimal training. The result was the 9K111 Fagot, a missile designed to strike with enough speed to eliminate the dangerous 'deadzone' of earlier anti-tank systems.

Developed by the Tula KBP Design Bureau starting in 1962, the 9K111 Fagot (NATO reporting name AT-4 Spigot) entered service in 1970. Designed for use as a SACLOS wire-guided system, this second-generation model functions semi-automatically. Unlike its predecessors, which often required the operator to manually guide the missile through an upward arc, the Fagot utilized a gas generator to eject the missile at 80 m/s (180 mph). This initial burst allowed it to be launched directly at a target, significantly reducing the minimum engagement distance to about 70 meters.

The mechanism relies on a thin trailing wire that connects the missile to a 9S451 guidance box. By sending out automated instructions, the apparatus monitors a target in relation to an infrared bulb situated on the missile's rear. This SACLOS technology is notably more user-friendly than manual command to line of sight (MCLOS) systems, boasting a stated accuracy of 90% in some reports. While it shares technological foundations with the larger 9M113 Konkurs, the Fagot was specifically optimized for portability, weighing only 22.5 kg (50 lb) for the complete launcher system.

The weapon's legacy is one of widespread proliferation and adaptation. It has been used by diverse forces, from the Russian Airborne units to rebel groups in Syria and Palestinian Islamic Jihad. It even underwent significant reverse-engineering by North Korea in the late 1980s, becoming the Bulsae-2. While the original Fagot had a maximum range of 2,000 meters, later variants like the 9M111M Faktoriya extended that range to 2,500 meters and improved the warhead's penetration capabilities against reinforced armor.

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