{{Short description|North Korean anti-tank guided missile}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2026}}
{{Infobox weapon |is_missile=yes |name=Bulsae-4 |image= |image_size = |caption= |origin= [[North Korea]] |type=[[Anti-tank guided missile]] |used_by=[[North Korea]]<br>[[Russia]] |designer= |design_date=2010 (combat vehicle)<br>2018 (missile) |manufacturer= [[North Korea]] |unit_cost= |production_date= |service= |engine= |weight= |length= |diameter= |wingspan= |wars=[[Russo-Ukrainian war (2022–present)|Russo-Ukrainian war]] |vehicle_range={{cvt|10-25|km|abbr=on}} |ceiling= |altitude= |filling= |guidance=[[Contrast seeker|Electro-optical seeker]] combined with [[command guidance]] |detonation= |launch_platform=Armoured launcher<br>Pickup truck launcher |variants= }}
The '''Bulsae-4'''{{efn|Western analysts has called Bulsae-4 as '''Spike Kim''', a mocking nickname for this missile.<ref name="viettimes">{{Cite web|author=Thu Thủy|title=Khám phá hệ thống tên lửa chống tăng cực kỳ lợi hại mà Triều Tiên cung cấp cho Nga|trans-title=Discover the extremely potent anti-tank missile system that North Korea supplied to Russia|url=https://viettimes.vn/kham-pha-he-thong-ten-lua-chong-tang-cuc-ky-loi-hai-ma-trieu-tien-cung-cap-cho-nga-post177168.html|access-date=2026-01-09|website=VietTimes|date=2024-08-09|language=vi}}</ref>}} ({{korean|불새-4|lit=Phoenix-4}}) is a [[North Korea]]n [[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.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Cousin|first=Victor|date=2026-01-06|title=Guerre en Ukraine : « l’un des missiles les plus avancés », qu’est-ce que le système nord-coréen Bulsae-4 utilisé par les Russes ?|trans-title=War in Ukraine: "One of the most advanced missiles," what is the North Korean Bulsae-4 system used by the Russians?|url=https://www.leparisien.fr/international/ukraine/guerre-en-ukraine-un-des-systemes-les-plus-avances-quest-ce-que-le-missile-russe-bulsae-4-produit-par-la-coree-du-nord-06-01-2026-73SVKOP2HJHOTK7AUZJ2NLEGZY.php|access-date=2026-01-09|website=[[Le Parisien]]|lang=fr}}</ref>
==Design== The Bulsae-4 bears external similarities to [[Israel]]'s [[Spike (missile)|Spike]]<ref name="viettimes" /> and also possesses technological features similar to [[United States]]'s [[FGM-148 Javelin]] and [[China]]'s [[HJ-10]].<ref name="bld">{{Cite web|author=Tuệ Nhân|title=Triều Tiên sản xuất hàng loạt tên lửa diệt tăng Bulsae-4 tầm bắn gấp đôi Javelin|trans-title=North Korea is mass-producing Bulsae-4 anti-tank missiles with twice the range of the Javelin|url=https://baolamdong.vn/trieu-tien-san-xuat-hang-loat-ten-lua-diet-tang-bulsae-4-tam-ban-gap-doi-javelin-416746.html|access-date=2026-01-09|website=Báo Lâm Đồng|publisher=Lam Dong Newspaper and Radio, Television|date=2026-01-07|language=vi}}</ref> It features non-line-of-sight (NLOS) attack capability,<ref>{{Cite web|author=Thành Vinh|title=Triều Tiên sản xuất hàng loạt tên lửa Bulsae-4 với khả năng tấn công đột nóc|trans-title=North Korea is mass-producing Bulsae-4 missiles, which are capable of striking targets deep within the roof|url=https://baonghean.vn/en/trieu-tien-san-xuat-hang-loat-ten-lua-bulsae-4-voi-kha-nang-tan-cong-dot-noc-10318921.html|access-date=2026-05-24|website=Báo Nghệ An|publisher=Nghe An Newspaper and Radio, Television|date=2026-01-07}}</ref> allowing Bulsae-4 to be used from cover. However, it relies on reconnaissance drones to spot targets.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Abrams |first1=A. B. |title=North Korea Closes Russia’s Anti-Tank Missile Gap With Ukraine |url=https://thediplomat.com/2024/08/north-korea-closes-russias-anti-tank-missile-gap-with-ukraine/|access-date=9 January 2026 |work=[[The Diplomat (magazine)|The Diplomat]] |date=2024-08-06}}</ref> Bulsae-4 uses [[Contrast seeker|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 {{cvt|10-25|km|abbr=on}}.<ref name="vnn">{{Cite web|author=Đào Cảnh|date=28 August 2025|title=Bí mật công nghệ tên lửa chống tăng Bulsae-4: Vũ khí thay đổi cục diện xung đột Nga-Ukraine|trans-title=Technology secrets of Bulsae-4 ATGM: The weapon that can change the situation of Russo-Ukrainian conflict|url=https://vietnamnet.vn/ten-lua-chong-tang-bulsae-4-trieu-tien-thay-doi-cuc-dien-xung-dot-nga-ukraine-2436095.html|access-date=2025-09-15|website=[[VietNamNet]]|language=vi}}</ref>
Bulsae-4 is designed as a module weapon system that can be mounted on a 6x6 armoured vehicle,<ref name="skds">{{Cite web|author=Xuân Minh|date=2026-01-06|title=Tên lửa 'bắn rồi quên' của Triều Tiên trưởng thành từ chiến trường Ukraine|trans-title=North Korea's 'fire-and-forget' missiles matured on the battlefields of Ukraine|url=https://suckhoedoisong.vn/ten-lua-ban-roi-quen-cua-trieu-tien-truong-thanh-tu-chien-truong-ukraine-169260106154824088.htm|access-date=2026-01-09|website=Sức khỏe và Đời sống|lang=vi}}</ref> or a six-tube pickup truck chassis. A shoulder-mounted variant is also under development.<ref name="bld" /> The 6x6 wheeled combat vehicle is based on the M-2010 armored personnel carrier,<ref name="cni">{{Cite web|last=Weichert|first=Brandon J.|date=2025-08-27|title=How North Korea’s Bulsae-4 Is Redefining Anti-Tank Attacks Against Ukraine|url=https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/how-north-koreas-bulsae-4-redefining-anti-tank-attacks-against-ukraine-bw-082725|access-date=2026-01-09|website=[[Center for the National Interest]]}}</ref> estimated to be {{cvt|7.65|m|abbr=on}} long and {{cvt|2.9|m|abbr=on}} wide. It can accommodate up to eight missile tubes.<ref name="odin">{{Cite web|date=2024-12-20|title=Bulsae 4 (M-2018) North Korean 6x6 Anti-Tank Guided Missile (ATGM) Combat Vehicle|url=https://odin.tradoc.army.mil/WEG/Asset/02cad1626d206c9df953369faba2e4c9|access-date=2026-01-09|website=OE Data Integration Network|publisher=[[United States Army]]}}</ref>
According to North Korea, the Bulsae-4, which is officially called "tactical guided weapon", has sufficient military value to replace [[multiple rocket launcher]]s. It is planned to be deployed within key military units in the [[Korean People's Army]] starting from the first half of 2026.<ref name="qngtv">{{Cite web|date=2026-01-05|title=Triều Tiên mở rộng năng lực sản xuất vũ khí dẫn đường chiến thuật|trans-title=North Korea to expand production of tactical guided weapon|url=https://quangngaitv.vn/trieu-tien-mo-rong-nang-luc-san-xuat-vu-khi-dan-duong-chien-thuat-6512941.html|access-date=2026-01-09|website=Quảng Ngãi TV|publisher=Quang Ngai Newspaper and Radio, Television|language=vi}}</ref> ==History== The combat vehicle of Bulsae-4 was introduced in 2010.<ref name="odin" /> Around 2018, the missile was introduced. Since then, Bulsae-4 has been displayed in military parades and exhibitions.<ref name="cni" />
===Mass production=== It was reported that Bulsae-4 has entered mass production.<ref>{{Cite web|author=Nguyễn Tám|date=2026-01-05|title=Triều Tiên đưa Bulsae 4 vào sản xuất hàng loạt|trans-title=North Korea puts Bulsae-4 into mass production|url=https://1thegioi.vn/trieu-tien-dua-bulsae-4-vao-san-xuat-hang-loat-243279.html|access-date=2026-01-09|website=Một Thế Giới|lang=vi}}</ref> During an inspection to a munition factory on 3 January 2026,<ref>{{Cite web|date=2026-01-04|title=Respected Comrade Kim Jong Un Visits Major Munitions Factory|url=http://kcna.kp/en/article/q/37532209a1383aea6448dd9da90c55a4.kcmsf|access-date=2026-01-07|website=[[Korean Central News Agency]]}}</ref> North Korean leader [[Kim Jong Un]] ordered to expanded production of Bulsae-4 by 2.5 times.<ref>{{Cite web|author=Bạch Dương|date=2026-01-06|title=Triều Tiên tăng gấp 2,5 lần sản lượng tên lửa chống tăng Bulsae-4|trans-title=North Korea to increase production of Bulsae-4 anti-tank missiles by 2.5 times|url=https://anninhthudo.vn/trieu-tien-tang-gap-25-lan-san-luong-ten-lua-chong-tang-bulsae-4-post634647.antd|access-date=2026-01-09|website=An ninh Thủ đô|language=vi}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2026-01-05|author=Xuân Thịnh|title=Triều Tiên mở rộng năng lực sản xuất vũ khí dẫn đường chiến thuật|trans-title=North Korea to expand production of tactical guided weapon|url=https://dnrt.vn/chi_tiet-173238|access-date=2026-05-24|website=DNRT|publisher=Da Nang Newspaper and Radio, Television|language=vi}}</ref>
===Russian use=== The Bulsae-4 was reported to be used by Russian forces during [[Russo-Ukrainian war (2022–present)|Russo-Ukrainian war]], as it was retrieved from the battlefield by Ukrainian intelligence in late 2024.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Newdick |first1=Thomas |title=North Korean Air Defense System Revealed In Ukraine By Russian Friendly Fire Strike |url=https://www.twz.com/land/north-korean-air-defense-system-revealed-in-ukraine-by-russian-friendly-fire-strike |access-date=9 January 2026 |work=The War Zone |date=13 January 2025}}</ref> In August 2024, it was first spotted in Ukraine,<ref name="skds" /> as an image captured from a Ukrainian drone purportedly showed a Bulsae-4 vehicle operating near [[Kharkiv]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Manley|first1=Cameron|title=A North Korean anti-tank missile vehicle appears to be operating near Ukraine. It may be the 1st armored vehicle Pyongyang has sent Russia.|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/north-korean-anti-tank-missile-vehicle-appears-operating-ukraine-russia-2024-8|access-date=9 January 2026 |work=[[Business Insider]] |date=2024-08-01}}</ref>
In December 2024, Ukraine claimed to destroy a Bulsae-4 vehicle,<ref>{{Cite web|first=Shin-young|last=Lee|date=2025-02-21|script-title=ko:북한군 대전차 무기 '불새', 우크라전 쿠르스크 전선에 복귀|trans-title=The 'Bulsae' anti-tank weapon of North Korea returned to Kursk front in Russo-Ukrainian war|url=https://www.yna.co.kr/view/AKR20250221097500009|access-date=2026-05-24|website=[[Yonhap News Agency]]|language=ko}}</ref> with a Ukrainian media outlet (''[[Euromaidan Press]]'') releasing video of the destruction.<ref>{{Cite web|first=Jae-seong|last=Bae|date=2024-12-02|script-title=ko:"北대전차무기 '불새-4' 파괴"…우크라 '드론 부대' 영상 공개|trans-title=Ukraine released video of the destruction of North Korea's anti-tank weapon Bulsae-4, flimed by a drone unit|url=https://www.joongang.co.kr/article/25296534|access-date=2026-05-24|website=[[JoongAng Ilbo|The JoongAng]]|language=ko}}</ref>
==See also== *[[Spike (missile)]] *[[FGM-148 Javelin]] *[[HJ-10]] == Notes == {{notelist|group=efn}} == References == {{reflist}}
{{DPRK missiles}}
[[Category:Anti-tank guided missiles of North Korea]] [[Category:Military equipment introduced in the 2020s]]