Used for decades by the Armed Forces of Russia, the 9M123 Khrizantema-M anti-tank missile continues to be employed in significant numbers and on a variety of combat platforms, a fact that has enabled the sustained introduction of improvements which would allow it to reach hypersonic speeds. The information was released by officials from the state consortium Rostec, who did not provide further details or specific technical parameters regarding the true extent of the modifications applied to the missile.
Originally, the 9M123 Khrizantema is a guided anti-tank missile developed in the 1990s and currently produced by KBM (part of the Rostec conglomerate). It is designed to be used from the 9P157-2 vehicle, based on the BMP-3 chassis, and employs a dual guidance system — millimeter-wave radar and laser — allowing it to operate in adverse weather conditions and against targets equipped with countermeasures.
According to official information released by Rosoboronexport, the Khrizantema-M was first presented at the ARMY 2023 International Forum, as a new version of the guided anti-tank missile with a range of up to approximately 6 kilometers, depending on the variant used. It is equipped with a tandem warhead designed to penetrate explosive reactive armor, enabling it to engage modern combat vehicles, as well as fortifications and other heavily protected targets.
“First of all, the missile’s flight range has been increased, allowing the crew to remain outside the engagement zone; secondly, it has hypersonic speed,” company representatives stated. They also added that this new version would not only be used in anti-tank systems, but also on attack helicopters of the Armed Forces.
Regarding system performance, previously known versions of the missile reached speeds on the order of 400 to 500 meters per second. This figure is relevant in light of recent claims about a supposed hypersonic capability, since to be considered hypersonic a system must exceed Mach 5, that is, approximately 1,700 meters per second at sea level. So far, no technical data have been presented confirming a leap of that magnitude in terms of propulsion or structural design.
Other hypersonic missile developments
It should not be overlooked that the development of this missile is part of a broader context, namely the war with Ukraine. In this regard, since the beginning of the conflict, Russia has intensified communication about hypersonic systems, highlighting capabilities such as those of the Kinzhal or the 3M22 Zircon, deployed from aircraft and ships as launch platforms.
Despite this, the case of the Khrizantema-M and the available data suggest that, if improvements do exist, these may be related to optimization of guidance, range, or increased terminal speed, but not necessarily to a full transition into the hypersonic category in the strict technical sense of the term.
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