For the First Time: Ukraine Unveils 'Coral' Rocket Launcher to Enhance Air Defense

Ukraine revealed the anti-aircraft rocket launcher "Coral" (Coral) for the first time during the MSPO defense exhibition held in Poland.

A photo published by the company "Aeroburonom" showed a missile being launched from a self-propelled platform mounted on a Czech Tatra truck.

The developer stated that the missile is designed to intercept aerial and ballistic targets, noting it will be used as part of an air defense system.

The developer also indicated that, under exceptional circumstances, the missile can engage ground or surface targets with high radar contrast.

The missile weighs 450 kg, of which 36 kg is the warhead weight, and its guidance system combines inertial navigation, radio correction, and an active radar seeker.

The missile has a diameter of 230/300 mm and a length of 4.8 meters, with a wing span of 835 mm and a control surface span of 685 mm.

Development work on the "Coral" project began in 2016; at the time, the missile was referred to in documents as part of a ship-based anti-aircraft missile system.

The "Coral" missile became the focus of broad public discussion in 2021 when the "Luch" design bureau unveiled a full-scale model at the "Weapons and Security - 2021" exhibition.

At that time, the weapon was classified as a standard missile designed according to a modular system, intended for use in both land and naval air defense systems, with potential application as an air-to-air missile as well.

In the initial phase, the announced specifications for the "Coral" missile were significantly more modest: a range of up to 30 km, a ceiling of up to 10 km, a weight of approximately 300 kg, and a warhead weighing 25 kg.

The missile measured 4.33 meters in length, with a diameter ranging between 230 and 260 mm. At the same time, designers emphasized that specific characteristics could vary depending on customer requirements.

One of the key features of the project was achieving maximum component standardization. In 2021, Oleg Kurostelyev, senior designer at the "Luch" design bureau, estimated the system's readiness level at around 70%.

At the time, the bureau was studying the creation of an integrated Ukrainian air defense system with engagement ranges of approximately 10 km, between 30 and 40 km, and up to 100 km; the "Coral" system was expected to occupy the medium-range category within this framework.