Top 10 anti tank guided missiles

Taking a tank is not an easy job but yeah some ATGMs (Anti Tank Guided Missiles) around
the world are capable to enhance the ground maneuver battles. Which of these missiles works
best? The answer is that it depends. However, this time we are with a list of deadliest missiles
intended to destroy a tank.
10. Nag (India):
One of the deadliest Fire-and -Forget anti tank guided missile of India. Developed by Defence and
Research Developed Organization (DRDO), this virtually jam-proof missile ensures a high-hit accuracy
in both top- and front-attack modes. The Nag is visible only during the first one second of flight, when
the missiles booster imparts 90% of the momentum; after that, a sustainer maintains the missiles
speed, burning a smokeless propellant that is practically invisible.

9. Kornet (Russia):
Developed to deal with future generations battle tanks, this ATGM was developed by KBP Instrument
Design Making Bureau, Tula, Russia which includes a thermal sight to fire at night and in adverse
conditions. It can engage current and future tanks equipped with explosive reactive armor,
fortifications, hostile manpower, slow flying, waterborne and other targets.

8. Spike (Israel):
One of the most sexiest anti tank guided missile developed by Israeli company Rafael Advanced
Defense Systems (RADS). Based on the principle of Fire, Observe and Update, it has a common
system architecture providing medium, long and extended long range precision attack capability for
infantry, mobile, airborne and sea-based applications.

7. Brimstone (United Kingdom):

Developed by Matra Defense and BAe Dynamics (MBDA), it is a highly effective, all-weather,
autonomous missile that uniquely offers the capability to engage targets in the deepest parts of the
battlefield beyond the range of other systems. Brimstone has a Tandem Shaped Charge (TSC) warhead
that employs a smaller initial charge, designed to initiate reactive armor, followed by a larger, more
destructive charge, designed to penetrate and defeat the base armour.

6. TOW (United States of America):

Acronym of Tube-launched Optically-tracked Wire command data link, this missile was developed by
Hughes Aircraft Company. It is designed to defeat armored vehicles and other targets such as field
fortifications from ranges up to 3,750 meters. The weapons operator uses a telescopic sight to view a
point on the target and then fires the missile. The missile has a two-stage ATK (Alliant Techsystems)
solid propellant rocket motor.

5. M-47 Dragon (United States of America):

Developed by Raytheon Company, M-47 is a shoulder-fired, medium range, command, wire-guided
anti tank missile. Designed to be carried and fired by an individual gunner, this missile had a range of
up to 3281 feet (1000 meters) and required 11.2 seconds flight-to-target time. This was a recoiless
weapon, i.e. the launcher did not kick when fired per se, but the sudden loss of the 30 lb missile from

ones shoulder caused many soldiers to flinch badly enough to lose their track of the target resulting in a
missile grounding.

4. Javelin (United States of America):

This missile with lock-on before launch and automatic self-guidance was developed by Texas
Instruments. The missile is ejected from the launcher so that it reaches a safe distance from the operator
before the main rocket motors ignite; a soft launch arrangement. The Javelin consists of a missile in a
disposable launch tube and a reusable Command Launch Unit (CLU) with a trigger mechanism and the
integrated day/night sighting device for surveillance, and target acquisition and built-in test capabilities
and associated electronics.

3. Predator (Israel):

Developed by Lockheed Martin and Israel Military Industries, Predator is quick, effective and simple to
use. The gunner points and shoots the weapon in the same way as firing a rifle. The Predator can be
fitted with either an HEDP anti-bunker warhead (in which case it is known as the MPIM-SRAW or
Predator-AB), or the standard top-attack EFP warhead. This missile uses a a pre-launch system where
the gunner tracks the target three seconds before launch and the internal system measures target speed
and direction.

2. Maverick (United States of America):

The Maverick is a tactical, air-to-surface guided missile designed for close air support, interdiction and
defense suppression mission. It provides stand-off capability and high probability of strike against a
wide range of tactical targets, including armor, air defenses, ships, transportation equipment and fuel
storage facilities. Mavericks played a large part in the destruction of Iraqs significant military force.

1. Hellfire (United States of America):

The development of the Hellfire Missile System began in 1974 with the U.S. Army requirement for a
tank-buster, launched from helicopters to defeat armored fighting vehicles. Between 2001 and 2007,
the U.S. has fired over 6,000 Hellfires in combat. The US military has found the missile effective in
urban areas as the relatively small warhead reduces the risk of civilian casualties.

Top-attack weapons such as the India's Nag, American Javelin and the Swedish Bill are designed to
focus the explosion down through an armoured fighting vehicle's thinner turret-roof or upper-hull
armour.
Nag (India)
The Nag is a third-generation (Gen-3), 'fire-and-forget' missile; once it is fired, its seeker automatically
guides the missile to even a fast-moving tank. In earlier-generation missiles an operator had to guide it
all the way, often exposing himself to enemy fire.
Nag missile operators search for enemy tanks through thermal imaging telescopes, which see as well by
night as they do by day.
Picking up a tank, the operator locks the Nag's seeker onto the target. A digital snapshot of the target is
automatically taken, which serves as a reference image.
As the Nag streaks towards the target, at 230 metres per second, the seeker takes repeated snapshots of
the target; each one is compared with the reference image, and deviations are translated through onboard algorithms into corrections to the Nag's control fins, which steer the missile precisely at the
target.

Maximum effective range: 4 km (Guidance mode: IIR (Imaging infra-red)), 7 km for air-launched
variant

BILL 2 (Sweden)
The BILL 2 missile was designed upon the original BILL 1 Anti-tank guided weapon that has been in
the service of the Swedish Army since 1988.
The BILL 2 comes with one 10.5 kg missile, a launching tube, tripod with x7 magnification day sight,
and one thermal imaging sight. The missile uses OTA or Overfly Top Attack to attack its target.
The missile flies towards the target on a standard horizontal trajectory, but rather than directly hitting
the target head on, it overflies it, detonating its warhead on top of an armoured vehicle, where the
armour is usually lighter.
It also utilises additional guidance accuracy via the installed rate gyro, which monitors the tracking
movement of the launcher. It is designed primarily to attack armoured or unarmoured vehicles, but can
also be used to attack helicopters or soft ground targets, such as light buildings.
The missile system is effective against both static and moving targets with an effective range of 150m
to 2,200m. Flight time at maximum range is 13 seconds

M93 Hornet (US)

The M93 Hornet is an anti-tank off-route munition made of lightweight material (35 pounds) that one
person can carry and employ.
The Hornet is a non-recoverable munition that is capable of acquiring targets by using sound and
motion detection methods.
When the mine detects a suitable target in range, the mine turns to face the target and elevates the
submunition launcher to the correct angle. The submunition is then fired in the direction of the target
using a gas generator.
Once the Hornet is armed and the self-test is performed, the munition will remain active until its selfdestruct (SD) time expires or until it is encountered. The SD time (4 hours, 48 hours, 5 days, 15 days,
or 30 days) is determined by the user. The munition will self-detonate after the SD time has expired.
Hornet munitions have an employed life of 60 days in the pre-armed mode (remote arming) and 30
days in the armed mode. If the temperature exceeds 100 degree Fahrenheit, the employed life drops to
15 days in the pre-armed mode and 30 days in the armed mode. Its standoff distance is up to 100
meters from the deployment site

MBT LAW (Sweden)

The MBT LAW is a man-portable, fire and forget, disposable weapon consisting of an anti-tank missile
sealed within a launch tube.
The MBT LAW has been designed to counter main battle tanks at short ranges as well as buildings,
fortifications and non-armoured vehicles. The weapon features a single shaped charge detonated by
magnetic and optical sensors striking downward at 90-degree.
It only weighs less than 12 kg and is absolutely free of maintenance. The weapon operator must track
the target during 2-3 seconds before the launch.
During that time the guidance control system of the MBT LAW calculates the foreseeable position of
the target. The weapon can be launched at 45-degree upward/downward.
Once launched, the projectile follows top-attack or direct attack profile according to pre-launch
settings.
Max Range: 600 m, Minimum Range 20 m, Top Speed 200 mps

SPIKE (Israel)
Rafael, based in Haifa, Israel, manufactures the Spike family of anti-armour weapons. The weapons are
lightweight fire-and-forget anti-tank missiles and use electro-optical and fibre-optic technologies.
The weapon consists of the missile in its canister and the firing post comprising a command launch
unit, thermal imager and firing post. The operator can maintain tracking and update aim points while
the missile is in flight, and even change targets in mid-flight. SPIKE is quick, too.
Utilising the fiber-optic communications link, the Spike missile can also get target and guidance
updates during the flight. The Spike Family consists of missiles suited for several platforms, multiple
ranges and a variety of targets.

In fire-and-forget mode, the soldier activates the missile, locking the tracker on the target and pushes
the fire button to launch. The missile automatically propels itself towards the target without any
additional interaction and this fire-and-forget capability allows the soldier the option of relocating to a
new firing position or to reload immediately for the next engagement.

Type 01 LMAT (Japan)

The Type 01 LMAT is a Japanese man-portable fire-and-forget anti-tank missile.
The missile guidance system, infrared detection is nested and launchers that carry the equivalent weight
is 17.5 kg and also for applying and firing a single missile is enough soldiers.
Similar to other modern anti-tank missiles, it is a deadly weapon feared by armoured vehicles
crewmen.
At the speed of 4 Kilometers per minutes, it delivers an accurate point fire out over several kilomoters
with its Infrared homing guidance system.
Since 2001, the Type 01 LMAT is into service with the Japan Self Defence Forces.

OMTAS (Turkey)
OMTAS has a maximum range of 4km and is fitted with a nose-mounted imaging infrared seeker and a
tandem HEAT warhead.
It has fire-and-forget and fire-and-update modes and can be launched from a confined space.
The OMTAS has the following capabilities:
1) Lock-on before and after launch
2) Can be used in day or night and in adverse weather conditions
3) Tandem warhead, effective against reactive armours
4) Insensitive munition characteristics against liquid fuel fire and bullet hits Communication of seeker
image to the user and command by user using Data Link.

SADARM (US)
SADARM (Sense and Destroy Armor) is a 'smart' artillery submunition designed for precision
engagement of self-propelled howitzers as well as other lightly armoured vehicles.
SADARM is designed to attack and kill lightly armoured vehicles. It is dispensed from a 155
millimeter (mm) howitzer round. Each howitzer round delivers two submunitions. Once dispensed, the
submunition deploys a parachute-like deceleration device.
At a predetermined distance from the ground, the submunition ejects the deceleration device and
deploys another device to stabilize and rotate the submunition. As the submunition falls and rotates, it
searches the ground with a millimeter wave sensor and an infrared sensor array.
Using the two sensors and detection logic, the submunition is designed to detect countermeasured
targets in a variety of climates. If the sensor detects a target, the submunition fires an explosively
formed penetrator (EFP) at the target. If no target is detected the submunition is designed to selfdestruct. It is reported to have a range of 15 kilometers

KSTAM (South Korea)

The KSTAM stands for Korean Smart Top-Attack Munition, and is a smart munition intended to be

launched from the gun of a main battle tank, namely the K2 Black Panther.
The KSTAM is a smart fire-and-forget projectile that have their own guidance system using stabilising
fins during flight.
These rounds can be fired from behind cover and have a maximum range of 8 kilometers (4.97 miles).
The munition, designed specifically for use with the Black Panther main battle tank, has its own
guidance and obstacle-avoidance systems, small millimeter band RADAR, IR, radiometer sensors and
Explosively Formed Penetrator.
After being fired, the munition will follow its firing trajectory, aided by four fins to stabilise its flight,
and travel over to its designated target area, whereupon a parachute will deploy to slow its fall, giving
the onboard RADAR system and sensors enough time to seek and acquire stationary or moving targets
and fire away its EFP at the top of the target.

Javelin (US)
The Javelin is the first man-portable fire-and-forget anti-armour missile in service with US Army and
Marine Corps ground forces, and as such has replaced the older FGM-77 Dragon.
The Javelin's range of approximately 2,500 meters is more than twice that of its predecessor, the
Dragon. A complete Javelin system consists of the CLU (Command Launch Unit) and the FGM-148A
missile in its disposable launch tube.
Before firing, the reusable CLU is mated with the launcher, and the gunner has to find a target through
the CLU's sights. When the trigger is pulled, the FGM-148A is ejected from the tube by a low-g soft
launch motor.
This keeps the recoil forces down, and makes the system usable e.g. from within buildings or vehicles.
When the missile has cleared the tube, the main motor ignites, and the six small wings and four tail fins

flip out.
The FGM-148A flies at altitudes above ground of up to 50m (160 ft) for the direct attack or 150 m (490
ft) for the top attack mode. The Javelin's IIR (Imaging Infrared) seeker with its staring focal plane array
will guide the missile to the target, and the tandem shaped charge warhead detonates on impact.
The warhead section consists of a precursor warhead to defeat ERA (Explosive Reactive Armour) and a
main warhead to penetrate up to 800 mm of conventional armour.

PARS 3 LR (Germany)
PARS 3 LR (third generation missile/long-range) is the main armament for the Tiger helicopter ordered
by the German Army.
PARS 3 LR is a high-precision fire-and-forget weapon system for engaging mobile and stationary
targets equipped with the latest generation of armour protection, field fortresses, bunkers and other
high-value targets.
The 'fire-and-forget' system allows the helicopter to quit its position immediately after firing a missile,
thereby exposing itself only as briefly as necessary to the threat of retaliation.
The infrared seeker head locks on to the target before firing (lock-on before launch) after the optical
system integrated into the Tiger's mast sight has detected and identified it.
The missile navigates to the target autonomously, without requiring further influencing or control from
the gunner.
The operating range is given as 500 m to 5,000 m, but the range is extendible to 7,000 m. Salvo firing
provides a firing rate of up to four missiles in eight seconds

CBU-97 (US)
The CBU-97 is a 1,000-pound class weapon containing sensor-fused submunitions for attacking
armour.
The Sensor Fuzed Weapon is an unpowered, top attack, wide area, cluster munition, designed to
achieve multiple kills per aircraft pass against enemy armour and support vehicles.
After release, the Tactical Munitions Dispenser opens and releases the ten submunitions, which are
parachute stabilised.
Each of the 10 BLU-108/B submunitions contains four armor-penetrating projectiles with infrared
sensors to detect armoured targets.
At a preset altitude sensed by a radar altimeter, a rocket motor fires to spin the submunition and initiate
an ascent. The submunition then releases its four projectiles, which are lofted over the target area.
The projectile's sensor detects a vehicle's infrared signature, and an explosively formed penetrator fires
at the heat source. If no target is detected after a period of time, the projectiles automatically after a
preset time interval, causing damage to material and personnel.

BLU-108 (US)
The BLU-108 is an advanced submunition designed to effectively engage and destroy armoured
vehicles.
Each BLU-108 contains four armor-penetrating projectiles equipped with infrared sensors to detect
armored targets. These four armour penetrating projectiles are sensitive to the target's heat.
Once the BLU-108 warhead has been dropped from its dispenser, a parachute takes care of stabilising
it.
At a pre-programmed altitude determined by a radar altimeter the BLU-108's ignites initiating the
ascent. The submunition the releases its four projectiles lofted over the target area.
The four shaped skeet infrared sensing armor penetrating projectiles use top-attack profile to hit the
target where the armour is weaker increasing the odds for a successful kill. In 2005, the BLU-108
warhead was integrated into the CBU-97/CBU-105 Sensor Fused Weapon

BGM-71F TOW (US)

The BGM-71 TOW missile is the main heavy anti-tank guided missile of the US Army and US Marine
Corps, and is used in vehicle and helicopter installations.
The TOW is a crew portable, vehicle-mounted, heavy anitarmor weapon system consisting of a
launcher and one of five versions of the TOW missile.
It is designed to defeat armoured vehicles and other targets such as field fortifications from ranges up to
3,750 meters. After firing the missile, the gunner must keep the cross hairs of the sight centered on the
target to ensure a hit.
The system will operate in all weather conditions in which the gunner can see a target throughout the
missile flight by using either a day or night sight. The TOW is controlled in flight by its four gasoperated movable tail fins. The high-explosive shaped-charge warhead of the BGM-71A detonates on
impact, and can penetrate armour with a thickness of about 600 mm.
Minimum range for the TOW is about 65 m, and maximum range is limited by the length of the
guidance wire, which is 3000 m (3280 yds) for the BGM-71A.