Anti-Armor Weapon Systems Overview

Anti-Armor Weapon Systems

• Javelin (M98A2): A man-portable, medium-range anti-tank weapon. Consists of a reusable Command Launch Unit (CLU) and a missile. Max range is 2,500 meters.
• Command Launch Unit (CLU): The reusable part of the Javelin system. Includes day and night sights, gunner controls, display indicators, and built-in testing.
• Javelin Round: Composed of a Launch Tube Assembly (LTA) and Battery Cooling Unit (BCU). Designed to defeat current and projected armor.
• Saber (M41A7): A highly mobile, heavy anti-tank precision fire system. Includes a launch tube, Target Acquisition Subsystem (TAS), Traversing Unit (TU), tripod, Fire Control Subsystem (FCS), Lithium Power Source (LPS), and Position Attitude Determination Subsystem (PADS).
• PADS: Requires at least 4 satellites for its position and 5 for the target, providing grid coordinates for both. Accuracy is 60 meter CEP at 6,000 meters.
• Seeker Trigger: Activates the missile's seeker mode after target lock adjustment.
• Round Interface Connector: Connects electrically and digitally for information and seeker image transmission.
• NVS NOT COOL: CLU indicator signifying the night vision sight hasn't reached operating temperature.
• Attack Mode: CLU display indicator showing missile trajectory to the target; default is top attack, with direct attack selectable by the gunner.
• FTL capability: Provided by PADS on the TAS, giving precise grid coordinates (60m CEP at 6km).
• Aided Target Tracking: Improves missile tracking for higher hit and kill percentages.
• TU Elevation Brake: Enhances Saber stability at launch.
• Hot Position: Good firing position accommodating backblast.
• Cold Position: Maximally covered position.
• Fire Patterns: Standard techniques for deploying anti-armor fire across multiple targets.
• Active Protection: Systems that protect targets through jamming, radar, or fragmentation.
• Passive Protection: Armor not actively responding to threats, e.g., cages or spaced armor plates.
• Reactive Protection: Includes explosive and non-explosive defense measures.
• Target Precedence: Prioritizing enemy weapons based on threat level.
• Primary Position: Prime firing location with a specific mission.
• Ambush Concept: Guides positioning of anti-armor weapons.
• Categories of Anti-Armor Weapons: Light, medium, and heavy.
• HAW MAW LAW: Concept combining heavy, medium, and light anti-armor weapons for long-range engagement.
• Mass Surprise Fires: Simultaneous engagements by all anti-armor weapons.
• MAAWS: Specific anti-armor weapon systems with varying characteristics and ranges. (HE, HEDP, ADM, Illum, HEAT).
• Javelin Max Range: 2500 meters.
• Javelin Min Range: Top attack 150m; direct attack 65m.
• Left Handgrip Controls: Components for filter, focus, and sight selection.
• Fire Trigger: Initiates missile firing sequence.
• CLU Sights: Magnification options for different sight types.
• TOW2B Aero Max Range: 4200 meters.
• TOW2B Aero Min Range: 200 meters.
• Direct View Optic Magnification: WFOV (4x), NFOV (12x).
• NVS Magnification: 2x, 4x, or 12x.
• Saber Firing Considerations: Launch clearance, friendly locations, backblast, standoff distance, minimum engagement range, systems checks, and water considerations.
• Saber Penetration: 36 inches of homogenized steel.
• ITOW, TOW 2, TOW 2a, TOW 2b, TOW 2B AERO, TOW 2B AERO Gen 2, TOW BB: Different TOW missile variants with varying features and capabilities.
• Primary Anti-Armor Mission: Destroy enemy armored vehicles (tanks, IFVs, APCs).
• Secondary Anti-Armor Mission: Provide fire support against point targets.
• Fire Positions: Frontal fire (best against columns), crossfire (best against facing targets), depth fire (targets in depth), and kill-window fire (targets moving between cover).
• Methods of Initial Engagement: On order or event-driven.
• Enemy Threat Levels: Most dangerous (engaging friendlies), dangerous (possible engagement), least dangerous (no engagement).
• Position Strategies: Alternate positions (same mission, different spot) vs. supplementary (different mission, different spot).
• Anti-Armor Positioning Keys: Cover, concealment, dispersion, mutual support, stand-off, flank shots.
• ATGM Advantages: High first round hit probability, adaptability on various platforms, capability against armor from flanks and top.
• ATGM Disadvantages: Vulnerability to enemy fire, slow time of flight, limited rate of fire, terrain/vegetation restrictions.
• LAV-25, LAAW, MG, RW, FW, Arty: Specific advantages and considerations for different anti-armor weapons, especially in terms of their ranges and capabilities.
• HAW MAW LAW Advantages: Extended engagement of enemy armor, potentially increasing friendly position kills.
• HAW MAW LAW Disadvantages: Increased visibility, exposure, difficulties with flank shots at range.
• MSF Advantages: Rapidly demoralizing & destroying enemy.
• MSF Disadvantages: Proximity to enemy within safe standoff, potential for enemy bleeding into friendly lines.
• CLU Display Indicators: Various indicators (Seeker Mode, Missile Not Ready, MSL CONN).