Anti-tank guided missiles of western Europe, Israel and India

Anti-tank guided missiles are designed to hit and destroy heavily armored tanks and other armored fighting vehicles. This review offers a historical and technical overview (development of missiles throughout generations and basic data about combat and operational actions) of this type of weapons in Western Europe, Israel and India. The review also offers prices of some missiles and tendencies of development in this branch. Anti-tank guided missiles are primarily designed to destroy armoured tanks as well as other armoured vehicles. Anti-tank guided systems differ in size, from small ones (shoulder-launched missile weapons carried by a single person) to complex weapon systems (crewserved, vehicle-mounted and airborne systems). The first generation of anti-tank guided missiles is a manually guided MCLOS (Manual Command to Line of Sight) projectile requiring an operator to guide and steer it to a target by a joystick. Vickers vigilant is a British anti-tank wire-guided missile, produced in 1956. The Bantam (Bofors Anti-Tank Missile) or Robot 53 (RB 53) is a Swedish anti-tank wire-guided missile, produced in 1963. Cobra is a German - Swiss product which entered the operational use in 1956. It was replaced by Cobra 2000 and Mamaba systems, which are anti-tank guided missiles of the first generation, but with improved guidance and electronics. ENTAC (Engin téléguidé anti-char) or MGM Petronor-32A is a French anti-tank wire-guided missile, widely spread and still in the operational use in many countries, France included. It is one of the best missiles of its generation. SS.10 preceded the ENTAC system. Its country of origin is the same (France), and it has been in the operational use since 1950. The SS.11 is a modification of the SS.10 system, used for launching from helicopters. The second generation of anti-tank guided missiles is designated by the abbreviation SACLOS (Semi-Automatic Command to Line of Sight) and represents a semiautomatic guidance of missiles in line. Generally, there are two SACLOS operating principles: - Wire and Radio guided SACLOS - Beam -Riding SACLOS ERYX is a short-range portable SACLOS produced by France and Canada. HOT, existing in three variations (HOT1, HOT 2, HOT 3), is one of the best projectiles of this generation, created as a product of cooperation of Germany and France. Milan (Missile d'Infanterie Léger Antichar) is a European leader escadrille SACLOS missile system. PBS 56 BILL 1 (Bofors, Infantry, Light and Lethal) is an anti-tank guided missile of the Swedish Army. BILL 2 is the heir of the BILL 1 system. LAHAT (Laser Homing Attack or Laser Homing Anti-Tank) is an anti-tank guided missile of low gravity, developed in 1992. Its country of origin is Israel. MAPTS (Man Portable Anti-Tank System) is an anti-tank guided missile with Beam-Riding SACLOS guidance. The country of origin is also Israel. NIMROD is a long-range anti-tank guided missile, created as a project of the Israel Aerospace Industries. Most technologically advanced and the last generation of antitank guided missiles is the third generation. These are the best technological and operational missiles currently available on the world market. This generations fully relies on lasers, electro-optical imagers or W-band radar seekers in the nose of the missile. MTBLAW is the third generation of anti-tank guided missiles developed by Sweden and Great Britain. The warhead and a part of the missile guidance system are based on BILL 2. PARS 3 LR, known also as TRIGAT-LR, is along-range anti-tank guided missile from Germany, still under development. British BRIMESTONE is designed according to a RAF request for a long-range anti-tank guided missile which allows strike aircraft to attack armoured vehicles. Spike, a 'fire and forget' missile, is intended for infantry use and is vehicle-mountable. Its country of origin is Israel. Nag is considered to be a cutting-edge antitank guided missile. It is the third generation of fire and forget systems. The system can operate in all weather conditions with a range from 4 to 7 km. The country of origin is India.