Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jun 26, 2026

Bulsae-4

The Bulsae-4 is a North Korean anti-tank guided missile.

Last revised
Jun 26, 2026
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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-4a (Korean: 불새-4; lit. 'Phoenix-4') is a North Korean anti-tank guided missile.

It is considered to be the "most advanced anti-tank weapon systems in the world", according to North Korean state media.2

Design

The Bulsae-4 bears external similarities to Israel's Spike1 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 to a munition factory on 3 January 2026,12 North Korean leader Kim Jong Un ordered to expanded production of Bulsae-4 by 2.5 times.1314

Russian use

The Bulsae-4 was reported to be used by Russian forces during Russo-Ukrainian war, as it was retrieved from the battlefield by Ukrainian intelligence in late 2024.15 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.16

In December 2024, Ukraine claimed to destroy a Bulsae-4 vehicle,17 with a Ukrainian media outlet (Euromaidan Press) releasing video of the destruction.18

See also

See also

Notes

Notes

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

References

  1. 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. 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). Lam Dong Newspaper and Radio, Television. Retrieved 9 January 2026.
  4. Thành Vinh (7 January 2026). "Triều Tiên sản xuất hàng loạt tên lửa Bulsae-4 với khả năng tấn công đột nóc" [North Korea is mass-producing Bulsae-4 missiles, which are capable of striking targets deep within the roof]. Báo Nghệ An. Nghe An Newspaper and Radio, Television. Retrieved 24 May 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. 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. 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. "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. "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 to increase production of Bulsae-4 anti-tank missiles by 2.5 times]. An ninh Thủ đô (in Vietnamese). Retrieved 9 January 2026.
  14. Xuân Thịnh (5 January 2026). "Triều Tiên mở rộng năng lực sản xuất vũ khí dẫn đường chiến thuật" [North Korea to expand production of tactical guided weapon]. DNRT (in Vietnamese). Da Nang Newspaper and Radio, Television. Retrieved 24 May 2026.
  15. 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.
  16. 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.
  17. Lee, Shin-young (21 February 2025). 북한군 대전차 무기 '불새', 우크라전 쿠르스크 전선에 복귀 [The 'Bulsae' anti-tank weapon of North Korea returned to Kursk front in Russo-Ukrainian war]. Yonhap News Agency (in Korean). Retrieved 24 May 2026.
  18. Bae, Jae-seong (2 December 2024). "北대전차무기 '불새-4' 파괴"…우크라 '드론 부대' 영상 공개 [Ukraine released video of the destruction of North Korea's anti-tank weapon Bulsae-4, flimed by a drone unit]. The JoongAng (in Korean). Retrieved 24 May 2026.