Tank designs are a balance of heavy firepower, strong armour, and good battlefield mobility provided by tracks and a powerful engine usually their main armament is mounted in a turret. The first tank to engage in battle, the British Mark I tank (pictured in 1916) with the Solomon camouflage schemeĪ tank is an armoured fighting vehicle intended as a primary offensive weapon in front-line ground combat. In fact, its light weight allows its operator to carry additional weapons including a rifle.For other uses, see Tank (disambiguation). NLAW weighs a mere 12.5 kg, making it very easy to carry and fire. NLAW aims its missile at the predicted position of the target, while the Javelin comparably uses infrared homing.Īdditionally, NLAW has a shorter range than its American counterpart of roughly 1,000 meters, which is why it is more commonly used against armored vehicles in fire exchanges or in combat encounters. Similar to the American-made Javelin anti-tank missile launcher, NLAW features an onboard guidance system that enables its operators to remain undetected post-launch. By the early 2000s, a memorandum of understanding was signed by Sweden and the UK, making NLAW a collaborative venture. Back in the late 1990s, the UK desired a man-portable, anti-tank weapon that could replace aging equipment.

The weapon was designed in a joint venture by the three countries, although the “NLAW” name refers to the initial UK development program, for which Saab was awarded the contract. Some analysts even argue that the NLAW weapons have been the most instrumental in thwarting the advance of Russian forces earlier on in the invasion.Īfter around a decade of development by contractor Saab Bofors Dynamics, the fire-and-forget missile system entered service in the Swedish, Finnish, and British armed forces in 2009.

The delivery of the Saab Bofors Dynamics NLAW missile system has particularly proven to be a significant asset for Ukrainian forces.

In addition to modern Western main battle tanks (MBTs), NATO members have provided anti-tank missiles, munitions, airframes, and other military equipment to the frontlines of the ongoing war.

America is by far the largest donor of military aid to Ukraine, providing over $46 billion in arms and equipment packages to the country over the last eighteen-month period. and other North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) allies have contributed significantly to support Kyiv’s defensive efforts. Meet the NLAW: Since Russia first invaded Ukraine back in February 2022, the U.S.

Current tanks used by us military