Why is the BGM-71 TOW still a nightmare for modern armor?

Without radar or advanced technology, the BGM-71 TOW is still a "nemesis" of tanks thanks to its smart design and absolute penetration ability.

According to Army Technology, the BGM-71 TOW anti-tank missile system is one of the most popular in the world . The Americans began developing it in the late 1960s and put it into use in the early 1970s. The entire system weighs about 22 kg; the missile is about 1.16 m long, 15.2 cm in diameter, the warhead weighs about 2.63 kg and can fire up to 4,200 m, with an average flight speed of about 180-190 m/s.

Simple, accurate and deadly - that's why the BGM-71 TOW is still considered a "nightmare" for every new generation of armored vehicles. Photo: US Army

TOW is very flexible, can be carried by hand, placed on a tripod, or mounted on mobile vehicles such as wheeled vehicles, infantry fighting vehicles, light armored vehicles, and even armed helicopters. The missile uses a two-stage solid-fuel engine, when the gunner looks through the sight to track the target, the control system transmits commands to the missile by two coils pulled behind the missile.

Initially, TOW generations used a hollow-point warhead (HEAT) to penetrate armor. Later, from the BGM-71E variant (TOW-2A), it was upgraded to use a dual warhead. The first charge will neutralize the explosive reactive armor (ERA) on the tank, the second charge will penetrate the real armor and destroy the vehicle. Thanks to that, TOW is still effective against vehicles with reactive armor.

Despite being born more than half a century ago, the BGM-71 TOW still makes all modern armored vehicles wary because of its incredible armor penetration and accuracy. Photo: US Army

In addition to destroying tanks and armored vehicles, TOW can also hit many other types of targets including machine gun nests, mortar positions, rocket launchers, command posts, ambush points... and can operate in many different weather conditions. TOW is a tool for infantry to fight armor, easy to deploy, has enough destructive power with many variations to respond over time.

BGM-71 TOW still proves its timeless power on the battlefield. Photo: US Army

However, because the TOW requires the operator to maintain guidance until the missile hits the target, the firing crew risks exposing its position if not properly shielded, which is especially evident when firing at maximum range. In addition, in urban areas, the lack of appropriate protection also reduces the system's combat effectiveness.

Source: https://congthuong.vn/vi-sao-bgm-71-tow-van-la-ac-mong-cua-thiet-giap-hien-dai-429913.html