Anti-tank guided missile

Anti-tank guided missile

An anti-tank guided missile (ATGM) or anti-tank guided weapon (ATGW) is a guided missile primarily designed to hit and destroy heavily-armored tanks and other armored fighting vehicles.

ATGMs range in size from shoulder-launched weapons which can be transported by a single soldier, to larger tripod mounted weapons which require a squad or team to transport and fire, to vehicle and aircraft mounted missile systems.

The introduction of smaller, man-portable ATGMs with larger warheads to the modern battlefield has given infantry the ability to defeat even heavily armored main battle tanks at great ranges, usually with the first shot. Earlier infantry anti-tank weapons such as anti-tank rifles, anti-tank rockets and magnetic anti-tank mines had limited armor-penetration abilities and/or required a soldier to approach the target closely.

"First-generation" manually command guided MCLOS missiles like the AT-3 Sagger require input from an operator using a joystick or similar device to steer the missile to the target. The disadvantage is that the operator must be well trained and must remain stationary and in view of the target during the flight time of the missile. Because of this, the operator is vulnerable while guiding the missile. "Second-generation" semi-automatically command guided SACLOS missiles require the operator to only keep the sights on the target until impact. Automatic guidance commands are sent to the missile through wires or radio, or the missile relies on laser marking or a TV camera view from the nose of the missile. Examples are the American TOW and Hellfire I missiles. Again the operator must remain stationary during the missile's flight.

More advanced "third-generation" guidance systems rely on a laser, electro-optical imager or a W band radar seeker, on the nose of the missile. Once the target is identified the missile needs no further guidance during flight (i.e. it is "fire-and-forget" ) and the operator is free to retreat. However, fire-and-forget missiles are more subject to electronic countermeasures than MCLOS and SACLOS missiles. Examples include the American Javelin, German PARS 3 LR, Israeli Spike and the Indian Nag.

Most modern ATGMs have shaped-charge high explosive (HEAT) warheads, designed specifically for penetrating armor. Tandem-charge missiles attempt to defeat ERA protected armor. The small initial charge sets off the ERA while the follow up main charge attempts to penetrate the main armor. Top-attack weapons such as the Indian Nag and the Swedish Bill are designed to focus the explosion down through an armored fighting vehicle's thinner turret-roof or upper-hull armor.

Countermeasures against ATGMs include spaced, perforated, and composite armour, explosive reactive armour (ERA), jammers like the Russian Shtora, and active protection systems (APS) like the Israeli Trophy and the Russian Arena. Traditionally, before "fire-and-forget" ATGMs were used, the most effective countermeasure was to open fire at the location where the missile was fired from: either the operator would be forced to take cover or he would be killed.

Anti-tank weapons like bazookas and RPGs are not considered ATGMs since the projectile is unguided.

See also

* List of anti-tank guided missiles
* List of missiles

External links

* [http://www.sinodefence.com/army/crewserved/hj8.asp HJ-8 Anti-tank guided missile]
* [http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/MISSILES/Nag.html Nag Missile]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7rWJPi7K1Fc Nag missile test video]
* [http://www.zentechnologies.com/anti_tank_guided_misssile_simulator.html Missile simulator]


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужно сделать НИР?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Mosquito anti-tank guided missile — The Mosquito was an Italian wire guided anti tank missile produced by Contraves Italiana SpA, it entered service with the Italian Army in 1961. It was broadly similar to anti tank missiles of the era, having a fibre glass body with four large… …   Wikipedia

  • BILL 2 Anti-tank guided weapon — The BILL 2 Anti Tank Guided Weapon is a man portable or vehicle mounted guided anti tank missile using the overfly top attack method to attack the weaker parts of an armoured vehicle. The weapon is currently in service with the Swedish… …   Wikipedia

  • Anti-Tank Guided Missiles — ATGM, missile designed to destroy tanks and that is directed by laser or infrared signals …   English contemporary dictionary

  • Anti-tank warfare — Anti tank refers to any method of combating military armored fighting vehicles, notably tanks. The most common anti tank systems include artillery with a high muzzle velocity, missiles (such as wire guided HEAT), various autocannons firing… …   Wikipedia

  • List of anti-tank guided missiles — A list of ATGMs by country. Argentina *Mathogo Brazil *MSS 1.2 China *HJ 10 *HJ 8 *HJ 9 *HJ 13 *HJ 73 *Type 98 anti tank rocket *Type 78/65 France *Entac *ERYX *SS.10 *SS.11 * MILAN * HOT * PARS 3 Germany * Cobra * Cobra 2000 * Mamba * MILAN *… …   Wikipedia

  • BILL 1 Anti-tank guided weapon — Infobox Weapon name=RBS 56 BILL caption= origin=flagcountry|Sweden type=SACLOS Anti tank missile is ranged=yes is explosive= is missile=yes service=1985 used by=Sweden, Austria, Brazil wars= designer= design date= manufacturer=Bofors unit cost=… …   Wikipedia

  • Integrated Guided Missile Development Program — An Agni II during the Republic Day Parade in 2004 The Integrated Guided Missile Development Program (IGMDP) was an Indian Ministry of Defence program between the early 1980s and 2007 for the development of a comprehensive range of missiles,… …   Wikipedia

  • List of NATO reporting names for anti-tank missiles — NATO reporting name for AT series anti tank guided missiles, with Soviet designations:* AT 1 Snapper (3M6 Shmel ) * AT 2 Swatter (3M11 Falanga ) * AT 3 Sagger (9M14 Malyutka ) * AT 4 Spigot (9M111 Fagot ) * AT 5 Spandrel (9M113 Konkurs ) * AT 6… …   Wikipedia

  • guided anti-tank missile — prieštankinė valdomoji raketa statusas T sritis Gynyba apibrėžtis Raketa tankams ir kt. šarvuotiesiems taikiniams naikinti; pagrindinė prieštankinių valdomųjų raketų kompleksų dalis. Skriejimo nuotolis 3–4 km, pataikymo tikimybė į tanką 70–90%,… …   Artilerijos terminų žodynas

  • Missile — For other uses, see Missile (disambiguation). A V 2 missile launch by the British during Operation Backfire. Though a missile may be any thrown or launched object, it colloquially almost always refers to a self propelled guided weapon system.… …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”