The operator continues to view and track the target through the sight. The missile has a two-stage ATK (Alliant Techsystems) solid propellant rocket motor. The weapons operator uses a telescopic sight to view a point on the target and then fires the missile. The missile has command to line-of-sight guidance. More than 2,100 units have been delivered and helicopters fitted with the TOW missile include the AgustaWestland Lynx, AgustaWestland A129, Bell Textron 206L, UH-1 Huey, Hughes 500MD helicopter, Eurocopter Bo 105 and Bell Textron AH-1 Cobra attack helicopter. The TOW missile system can be fitted as a single-tube pedestal mount on military vehicles or as two-tube or four-tube under-armour systems on vehicles such as the improved TOW vehicle M901, Desert Warrior, Piranha, US Marine Corps LAV, Dardo Hitfist and Bradley M2/M3.Īirborne TOW is in service in at least 13 countries. The missiles can be fired from the ground using a tripod-mounted launch tube or installed on vehicles. The TOW 2 missile system was deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, which constituted the first operational firing of the TOW 2B missile. TOW 2B Aero with ITAS has been selected for the US Marine Corps’ next-generation anti-armour weapon system-heavy (AAWS-H) programme. A US Army contract for more than 2,700 TOW 2B and TOW 2B Aero missiles (including practice rounds) was placed in July 2004. The contract was for 976 missiles, delivered by December 2006. TOW 2B (BGM-71F) entered production in 1991 with more than 40,000 missiles delivered and is designed to complement rather than replace TOW 2A, TOW 2B Aero, and TOW 2A bunker buster (BGM-71H).Ī production contract for the new extended-range TOW 2B Aero was awarded by the US Army in February 2004. Its production versions include TOW 2A (BGM-71E), which entered production in 1987 with over 118,000 missiles delivered. The TOW missile system has been in service since 1970 and more than 700,000 TOW weapon systems were delivered to the US Army and allied military forces to date.
BUNKER BUSTER MEANING UPGRADE
Raytheon’s upgrade programmes improve the safety and survivability of the troops while extending the lifetime of the missile beyond 2050. Other structural and technological improvements include ergonomic handgrips, integrated day and night visibility with range finding feature, and built-in-test capability. The TOW EagleFire launcher is lithium-ion powered, allowing silent watch for nine hours.
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