Editing Anti-tank guided missile (section)

==History==
[[Image:Missile MBDA Brimstone.jpg|thumb|right|The [[Brimstone missile]] is a fire-and-forget missile of the [[RAF]] ]]
[[Image:Trigat-LR-detoured.jpg|right|thumb|PARS 3 LR fire-and-forget missile of the [[German Army]] ]]

===World War II===
Germany developed a design for a wire-guided anti tank missile derived from the [[Ruhrstahl X-4]] air to air missile concept in the closing years of World War II.<ref>{{cite web|author=B. I. Yevdokimov|date=27 July 1967|title=ANTITANK ROCKET MISSLES<!--sic-->|url=https://apps.dtic.mil/dtic/tr/fulltext/u2/655039.pdf|access-date=27 April 2019|archive-date=27 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190427235649/https://apps.dtic.mil/dtic/tr/fulltext/u2/655039.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref> Known as the X-7, it was probably never used in combat and allegedly had serious guidance to target issues.<ref name="auto">{{cite web|url=https://www.forecastinternational.com/samples/F656_CompleteSample.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://www.forecastinternational.com/samples/F656_CompleteSample.pdf |archive-date=2022-10-09 |url-status=live |title=The Market for Anti-Tank Missiles |website=Forecast International |access-date=2019-09-13}}</ref> It never entered service, though a few were produced.<ref name="auto" />

===Early Cold War: first generation ATGMs===
First-generation ATGMs use a type of [[command guidance]] termed ''[[manual command to line of sight]]'' (MCLOS). This requires continuous input from an operator using a joystick or similar [[control system]] to steer the missile to a target. One disadvantage of this is that an operator must keep the sight's [[reticle]] cross hairs on a target and then steer the missile into the cross hairs, i.e., the line-of-sight. To do this, an operator must be well trained (spending many hours on a simulator) and must remain stationary and in view of a target during the flight time of the missile. Because of this, the operator is vulnerable while guiding the missile. In addition to the low kill probability, other problems with first generation ATGMs include slow missile speed, high minimum effective range, and an inability to use [[top attack]] missiles.<ref>{{cite journal |last1= Iyer, N. R. |date=1995 |title=Recent Advances in Antitank Guided Missile Systems |url= https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/333720993.pdf|journal=Defence Science Journal |volume=45 |issue=3 |pages=187–197 |doi= 10.14429/dsj.45.4118|doi-broken-date=30 April 2025 |access-date=}}</ref>

The first system to become operational and to see combat was the French [[Nord SS.10]] during the early 1950s. It entered service in the [[French Army]] in 1955. It was also the first anti-tank missile used by the [[US Army]] and [[Israeli Defense Forces]]. The [[Malkara missile]] (named from an [[Australian Aborigine]] word for "[[shield]]") was another of the earliest ATGMs. It was jointly developed by Australia and the United Kingdom between 1951 and 1954, and was in service from 1958 until gradually replaced by the [[Vickers Vigilant]] missile in the late 1960s. It was intended to be light enough to deploy with [[airborne force]]s, yet powerful enough to knock out any [[tank]] then in service. It used a {{convert|26|kg|lb}} [[high-explosive squash head]] (HESH) warhead. Other early first generation ATGMs include the West German [[Cobra (missile)|Cobra]] and the Soviet [[9M14 Malyutka]].

In 2012, first-generation systems were described as obsolete due to low hit probability, a limited ability to penetrate modern armour, and other issues. Still, many countries maintain significant stockpiles.<ref name="Berman" /> Approximately, first generation ATGMs have an effective range of 1500m and the ability to penetrate 500mm of [[rolled homogeneous armor]].<ref name="Berman">{{cite web|url=https://www.smallarmssurvey.org/sites/default/files/resources/SAS-Research-Note-16.pdf|title=Research Note No. 16: Anti-tank Guided Weapons|date=April 2012|publisher=Small Arms Survey|author1=Eric G. Berman|author2=Jonah Leff|author3= N.R. Jenzen-Jones|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230115073523/https://www.smallarmssurvey.org/sites/default/files/resources/SAS-Research-Note-16.pdf|archive-date=15 January 2023|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Late Cold War: second generation ATGMs===
Second-generation semi-automatically command guided to line-of-sight, or [[semi-automatic command to line of sight]] (SACLOS) missiles require an operator to only keep the sights on the target until impact. Automatic guidance commands are sent to the missile through [[Wire-guided missile|wires]] or [[radio]], or the missile relies on [[Beam riding|laser marking]] or a TV camera view from the nose of the missile. Examples are the Russian [[9M133 Kornet]], Israeli [[LAHAT]], the [[Spike (missile)#Spike NLOS|NLOS version of Spike]], and the American [[AGM-114 Hellfire|Hellfire I]] missiles. The operator must remain stationary during the missile's flight. The most widely used ATGM of all time, the American [[BGM-71 TOW]], with hundreds of thousands of missiles built, is a second-generation system.<ref name="Berman" />

Second generation ATGMs are significantly easier to use than first generation systems, and accuracy rates may exceed 90%. Generally they have an effective range of between 2,500 and 5,500 meters and penetration of up to 900&nbsp;mm of armor.<ref name="Berman" /> Cost is around $10,000 USD per missile.<ref name="Berman" />

===Post Cold War: third generation ATGMs and later===
Third-generation "[[fire-and-forget]]" missiles rely on a laser, electro-optical imager ([[Thermographic camera|IIR]]) seeker or a W band radar seeker in the nose of the missile. Once the target is identified, the missile needs no further guidance during flight; it is "[[fire-and-forget]]", and the missile operator is free to retreat. However, fire-and-forget missiles are more subject to electronic countermeasures than MCLOS and SACLOS missiles. Examples include the German [[PARS 3 LR]] and the Israeli [[Spike (missile)|Spike]].

Most modern ATGMs have [[shaped charge]] [[high-explosive anti-tank|HEAT]] warheads, designed specifically for penetrating [[tank]] armor. [[Tandem-charge]] missiles attempt to defeat [[explosive reactive armour]] (ERA): the small initial charge sets off the ERA while the follow-up main charge attempts to penetrate the main armor. [[Top-attack]] weapons such as the US [[FGM-148 Javelin|Javelin]], the Swedish [[BILL Anti-tank guided weapon|Bill]] and the Indian [[Nag (missile)|Nag]] and [[MPATGM]] are designed to strike vehicles from above, where their armor is usually much weaker.<ref>{{Cite web|date=July 19, 2019|first=Manjeet|last=Negi|title=Indian Army successfully carries out trials of third generation NAG missiles|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/indian-army-trials-third-generation-nag-missiles-1571425-2019-07-19|access-date=2021-06-26|website=India Today|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Gady|first=Franz-Stefan|title=India's DRDO Test Fires Indigenous Man Portable Anti-Tank Guided Missile|url=https://thediplomat.com/2018/09/indias-drdo-test-fires-indigenous-man-portable-anti-tank-guided-missile/|access-date=2021-06-26|website=thediplomat.com|language=en-US}}</ref> MPATGM incorporates a dual-mode [[RF]]/[[Imaging infrared|IIR]], [[AI]]-enabled uncooled seeker.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Linganna |first1=Girish |date=13 August 2024 |title=Accuracy of India's Man-Portable Anti-Tank Guided Missile will leave you amazed (WATCH) |url=https://english.mathrubhumi.com/news/india/man-portable-anti-tank-guided-missile-tested-watch-1.9810747 |access-date=14 January 2025 |publisher=english.mathrubhumi.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Velayanikal |first=Malavika |date=2021-02-15 |title=Guided missiles homing in with Indian deep tech |url=https://www.livemint.com/news/business-of-life/guided-missiles-homing-in-with-indian-deep-tech-11613314273154.html |access-date=2021-02-19 |website=Mint |language=en}}</ref> Third generation systems and beyond are generally much more expensive than second generation systems.<ref name="Berman" />

===Fourth generation ATGMs===
[[File:Sant Missile.webm|thumb|SANT missile fired from Mi-24]]
Fourth generation [[fire-and-forget]] anti tank guided missiles have larger range and rely on a combination of seeker for guidance. Examples include India's [[Nag (missile)#SANT|SANT]], which has a stand-off range of {{cvt|15|to|20|km|mi|0}}, uses dual seeker configuration of [[Electro-optical targeting system|electro-optical]] [[thermal imager]] (EO/[[IR seeker|IR]]) and [[millimeter-wave]] [[active radar homing]] for control and guidance with [[Lock-on after launch|lock-on before launch and lock-on after launch]] capabilities.<ref>{{Cite web|date=November 30, 2018|title=Upgraded SANT missile successfully flight tested|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/jaipur/upgraded-sant-missile-successfully-flight-tested/articleshow/66872743.cms|access-date=2021-06-26|website=The Times of India|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=India successfully test-fires SANT missile with 'Lock-on After Launch' & 'Lock-on Before Launch' capabilities|url=https://www.timesnownews.com/india/article/india-successfully-test-fires-sant-missile-with-lock-on-after-launch-lock-on-before-launch-capabilities/669661|access-date=2021-06-26|website=www.timesnownews.com|date=19 October 2020 |language=en}}</ref>

===Fifth generation ATGMs===
Some ATGMs, notably the French [[Akeron MP]]<ref>{{cite web |date=15 June 2022 |title=AKERON MP |url=https://www.mbda-systems.com/product/akeron-mp/}}</ref> and the latest variants of the Israeli Spike (such as the Spike LR2 and ER2),<ref>{{Cite web|title=SPIKE 5th Gen Precision Guided Tactical Missiles [ATGM]|url=https://www.rafael.co.il/worlds/land/spike-5th-gen-precision-guided-tactical-missiles/|website=www.rafael.com.il|language=en}}</ref> have been called "5th generation" by their manufacturers and marketed as such. They appear to have the following additional or amplified attributes:

*passive dual-band seeker (TV and uncooled IR);
*multipurpose tandem warhead;
*smokeless propellant;
*less collateral damage;
*possible counter-active protection system (CAPS) capability;<ref>{{cite web|url=http://defense-update.com/20170529_spike_lr_2.html|title=Rafael's 'Smarter' Spike is Designed to Defeat Tanks with Active Protection - Defense Update|website=defense-update.com|date=29 May 2017|access-date=29 May 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170529162002/http://defense-update.com/20170529_spike_lr_2.html|archive-date=29 May 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>
*[[Man In The Loop|man in the loop]] technology;
*emphasis on targets other than tanks;
*other updates such as [[artificial intelligence]] for the missile.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://air.dfns.net/2017/09/05/fifth-element-mmp-goes-live/|title=Fifth element: MMP goes live {{!}} DFNS.net Air|date=2017-09-05|work=DFNS.net Air|access-date=2018-02-14|language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180118010951/https://air.dfns.net/2017/09/05/fifth-element-mmp-goes-live/|archive-date=18 January 2018|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.industrie-techno.com/le-nouveau-missile-moyenne-portee-de-mbda-tire-et-oublie.30588|title=Le nouveau missile moyenne portée de MBDA|access-date=2018-02-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180118064522/https://www.industrie-techno.com/le-nouveau-missile-moyenne-portee-de-mbda-tire-et-oublie.30588|archive-date=18 January 2018|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.opex360.com/2014/06/16/mbda-met-en-la-modularite-du-missile-moyenne-portee/|title=MBDA met en avant la modularité du Missile Moyenne Portée|work=Zone Militaire|access-date=2018-02-14|language=fr-fr|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180215225054/http://www.opex360.com/2014/06/16/mbda-met-en-la-modularite-du-missile-moyenne-portee/|archive-date=15 February 2018|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last= |date=2017-10-24 |title=Rafael to supply IDF with new 5th gen Spike LR2 guided missiles |url=https://www.armyrecognition.com/news/army-news/2017/rafael-to-supply-idf-with-new-5th-gen-spike-lr2-guided-missiles |access-date=2025-01-27 |website=armyrecognition.com |language=en-gb}}</ref>