March 20, 2006:
Which anti-tank guided missiles (ATGM) are the best? This is a matter of no small concern to the infantry. They have often been on the short end of the stick when engaged in combat with armored vehicles. There are dozens of ATGM models out there, and a few are better at what they do.
Anti-tank guided missiles usually are controlled through a guidance system known as SACLOS (semi-automatic command line-of-sight). All an operator has to do is to hold the tank, infantry fighting vehicle, or armored personnel carrier in the sights of the missile launcher, and the missile will be guided into the target, either via wires that connect the missile to the launcher or via electronic transmissions from the missile to the launcher. Sounds simple, right? There's just one problem. Lots of people are shooting at those who hold the launcher - and that makes keeping the sights on the target much harder. New generations of anti-tank missiles have evolved that are fire-and-forget, which allows the missile team to clear out of their firing position. The missiles often deliver shaped-charge warheads.
Anti-tank missiles come in two varieties: Man-portable anti-tank missiles, which can be carried by teams of two men. Some of the major systems of this type in service are the Milan anti-tank missile, the Javelin anti-tank missile, and the AT7 Saxhorn. The Milan is a wire-guided anti-tank missile in wide service around the world. It has a range of two kilometers. The AT7 is also a wire-guided missile with a range of one and a half-kilometers. The American Javelin anti-tank missile features a two-kilometer range, but it uses an imaging infra-red seeker that gives the missile a fire-and-forget capability. Sweden's BILL system has a range of 2.2 kilometers, and uses wire guidance.
Two kilometers, though, is not much in a modern battlefield, particularly wide-open spaces like plains and deserts. Longer-range missiles are needed - because tank guns and the main weapons on infantry fighting vehicles and some APCs can reach more than the two kilometers that man-portable systems are limited to. These larger missiles are usually mounted on vehicles, but dismounted infantry can also use them (it requires a larger team, usually four or more personnel, and they do not carry as many rounds as a vehicle-mounted system). Some of the systems out there include the HOT, the TOW, the AT-5 Spandrel, and the AT-14 Kornet. HOT is a wire-guided system with a range of four kilometers. TOW is a similar system to HOT, with a range of 3.75 kilometers. The AT-5 is another of these wire-guided missiles, with a range of four kilometers. The AT-14 is another missile with a slightly shorter range (3.5 kilometers), but it only requires a three-man dismount team.
Several other anti-tank missiles are worth mentioning. One is the Hellfire anti-tank missile. The other is the AT-6 Spiral. These are primarily based off helicopters. The Hellfire has a range of eight kilometers, and used laser-guidance similar to that of the Paveway laser-guided bombs. The Spiral uses semi-active radio command guidance, and has a range of five kilometers. Israel also has a family of similar ATGMs called Spike. Excellent performance, a variety of ranges and low prices. But it is often politically incorrect to buy Israeli weapons.
Which of these systems works best? The answer is that it depends. For dismounted infantry, the Javelin is probably the best missile, due to its fire-and-forget capability. For vehicles, the Kornet is probably the best, since it can also be used as a dismounted missile more easily than HOT, TOW, or the Spandrel. For helicopters, the Hellfire is probably the best option. - Harold C. Hutchison ( [email protected])
