MODERN ANTI-TANK WEAPONS

Rapidly advancing technology has fuelled new generations of infantry and aerial anti-tank weapons

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Anti-tank weaponry of the post-Cold War era, leaning heavily on the wave of military technology that began to emerge in the latter half of the 20th century, has led to the introduction of potent, man-portable missile and rocket systems as well as accurate, deadly systems fired from ground installations and aerial platforms such as helicopters, fixed-wing aircraft and unmanned drones.

Infantry systems often employ the concept of 'fire and forget', enabling a ground operator to aim, fire and then displace to avoid a counter-strike from the enemy; missiles fired from aircraft are often placed on target by sophisticated laser guidance systems. Although such technology has transformed the battlefield, resulting in a continuing advancement in both anti-tank weaponry and the defensive capabilities for the tank to protect itself, some systems have remained viable for many years, bridging the Cold War period well into the 21st century. The viability of armoured fighting vehicles and the effectiveness of weapons designed to kill the tank in combat have both been tested since the end of the Cold War, during Operation Desert Storm, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and numerous other conflicts.

While the survivability of the armoured fighting vehicle on the battlefield has been improved with the introduction of countermeasures, explosive reactive armour (ERA), Chobham and other defensive initiatives, the anti-tank weapons available today are increasingly potent in firepower and accuracy. During the current war in Ukraine, one of the most prominent weapons systems is the American-made FGM-148 Javelin, a fire-and-forget man portable system introduced in the mid-1990s as a replacement for the M47 Dragon.