Anti-tank missile - Definition and Overview

An Anti-tank guided missile (ATGM) is a missile the primary purpose of which is to hit and destroy tanks. An alternative name is Anti-tank guided weapon (ATGW). ATGMs can be guided into the target by several methods, such as laser guiding, laser marking, TV camera, wire-guiding etc. The most advanced ATGMs have options for "fire-and-forget" and even "fire-and-fix". Anti-tank weapons like Bazookas and RPGs are not considered ATGMs since they don't have any guidance system.

Some ATGMs, listed by country

India

• Nag (Cobra)

International

• MILAN

Israel

• Rafael's SPIKE family
  • SPIKE-SR (short range)
  • SPIKE-MR (medium range) Gil
  • SPIKE-LR (long range)
  • SPIKE-ER (extra long range) - can be fitted on helicopter gunships
• Orev (upgraded Tow)

Pakistan

• Bakter-Shikan

USSR/Russia

• AT-1
• AT-2 Swatter (Soviet designation 3K11 Falanga)
• AT-3 Sagger (9K11 Malyutka)
• AT-4 Spigot (9K111 Fagot)
• AT-5 Spandrel (9K113 Konkurs)
• AT-6 Spiral (9K114 Shturm)
• AT-7 Saxhorn (9K115 Metis)
• AT-8 Songster (9K112 Kobra), fired through smoothbore tank gun tubes of T-64B and T-72
• AT-9 Ataka (AT-9 Ataka)
• AT-10 Stabber (9K116 Bastion)
• AT-11 Sniper (9K120 Svir/Refleks), fired through smoothbore tank gun tubes. Svir on later T-64BV, T-72BM, and T-72S; Refleks on T-80, T-84, and T-90
• AT-12 Sheksna (9K118 Sheksna)
• AT-13 Metis-M (9K131 Metis-M)
• AT-14 Kornet

External link: Antitank weapons (http://www.armscontrol.ru/atmtc/Arms_systems/Land/Missiles/AntiTankMissile/atinfo.htm) at armscontrol.ru.

United Kingdom

• Malkara missile
• Swingfire

United States

• Javelin
• TOW

See also