Editing Anti-tank guided missile (section)

===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>