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---- FITOW (British variant)
---- MAPATS (Israeli variant)
The missile has four flip-out rectangular raked-tip wings at mid-body and four flip-out rectangular moving control fins at the rear.
Several variants have been fielded. The BGM-71A/B missile has a rounded nose, measures 3 ft 10 in (1.17 m) long, has a diameter of 6 in (150 mm), wing span of 1 ft 6 in (0.45 m), and weighs 42 lb (19 kg). The BGM-71C ITOW is longer at 4 ft 9 in (1.45 m) due to the standoff nose probe. The BGM-71D TOW 2 has an even more extended probe and is 5 ft 0 in (1.53 m) long, diameter of 6 in (152 mm), larger 12.6 lb (5.7 kg) high-explosive warhead and weighs 47 lb (21.5 kg) at launch.
The basic TOW has a 5-in (127-mm) diameter warhead, analog computer and a 3,281-yd (3,000-m) range. Improved TOW (ITOW) added a telescoping stand-off detonation probe. At launch, the two-section probe springs forward to provide the optimum distance between the armor and the exploding high-explosive armor-piercing (HEAP) warhead. The TOW 2 has a three-section probe, a more powerful motor and a 6-in (152-mm) diameter warhead. The TOW 2A is similar to the TOW 2 except that it incorporates a tandem warhead to increase its effectiveness against reactive armor. The precursor warhead in the missile probe detonates the reactive armor allowing the primary warhead to penetrate the tank.
The missile is fitted with a high-intensity thermal beacon, which provides a long-wave infrared tracking source and a xenon beacon for short-wave tracking. This dual-tracking system provides increased resistance to electro-optical and infrared countermeasures.
The standard ground-launched TOW missile system includes a tripod, traversing unit, missile guidance set, launch tube, optical sight, battery assembly and thermal sight for night operations.
Most variants are guided by steering commands transmitted down two wires and controlled by the gunner using the semi-automatic command to line of sight (SACLOS) method. The gunner aligns the crosshairs in the sight unit on the target and presses the trigger. The missile is propelled by the launch motor, which weighs 3.3 lb (1.5 kg) and burns for 0.05 sec.
Once clear of the launch tube, the four wings, indexed at 45 deg, spring open forward, while the tail controls flip open rearward. The flight motor then fires through two lateral nozzles at mid-body. This motor weighs 7.7 lb (3.5 kg) and accelerates the missile for 1.5 sec before burning out. The TOW then coasts to the target at a top speed of 920 ft/sec (280 m/sec). The gunner keeps the crosshairs centered on the target using a joystick on the sight unit until the missile hits.
The TOW has been fitted to a wide variety of platforms. Helicopter
platforms include the
Many unarmored vehicles, including "jeeps" and M998-series High Mobility
Multi-Purpose Wheeled Vehicles (HMMWVs), can carry one or more TOW
mounts.
The BGM-71 was developed for the U.S. Army in the mid-1960s as a
replacement for the 106-mm recoilless rifle and
Initial operational capability (IOC) TOW/BGM-71A in 1970, ITOW/BGM-71C
in 1982, TOW 2/BGM-71D in 1984, TOW 2A/BGM-71E in 1987 and TOW
2B/BGM-71F in 1992 (first unit equipped). Over 650,000 TOWs have been
built and are in service with more than 40 armed forces. TOW missiles
are expected to remain in U.S. service beyond 2050, according to
Raytheon.
In January 1992, the Spanish joint venture firm Guiado y Control
(composed of Hughes and INISEL) won a Spanish Defense Ministry US$130
million contract to manufacture TOWs; additional orders were expected
through 1996.
A production contract for 976 TOW 2B Aero missiles was awarded to
Raytheon in February of 2004. Deliveries were completed in December of
2006.
On June 4, 2004, Raytheon was awarded a $123 million contract for 2,700
TOW missiles, including TOW 2B Aero, TOW 2B and TOW practice rounds, for
the U.S. Army and Marines, as well as international customers.
In April of 2005, the Army awarded a contract to Raytheon to restart
production of the TOW Improved Target Acquisition System (ITAS). There
were 709 systems procured between 1999 and 2003.
In August of 2005, Kuwait ordered 436 TOW missiles (292 TOW 2A, 144 TOW
2B).
On Sept. 15, 2006, Raytheon received a $163.2 million contract to supply
wireless TOW 2B RF missiles to the U.S. military. The deal included five
one-year options for additional weapons.
Raytheon announced it had been awarded a $161.8 million Army contract on
Dec. 4, 2006, to extend production and delivery of Improved Target
Acquisition Systems (ITAS).
On Dec. 7, 2006, the U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified
Congress of a potential Foreign Military Sale to Pakistan of TOW 2A
missiles. The potential deal, worth up to US$185 million, included 2,769
radio frequency TOW 2A missiles; seven RF TOW 2A fly-to-buy missiles;
415 RF Bunker Buster missiles; seven RF Bunker Buster fly-to-buy
missiles; and the upgrade of 121 TOW Basic/TOW-I launchers to fire TOW 2
configuration for wire-guided and wireless missiles, TOW data
acquisition systems, gunner aiming sight and related equipment, spare
and repair parts.
On Oct. 29, 2007, the U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified
Congress of a potential foreign military sale to Israel of various
missiles and munitions. The possible sale included 2,000 radio frequency
TOW 2A missiles and 14 RF TOW 2A fly-to-buy missiles.
Raytheon received a US$17 million contract in November 2007 to build 462
TOW Bunker Buster missiles for the Canadian army. The deal marked the
first international sale of TOW Bunker Buster missiles. The weapons
delivered to Canada were to be equipped with the new wireless radio
frequency command data link.
On Jan. 3, 2008, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency announced that
Kuwait sought to buy TOW 2A/B radio frequency missiles from the United
States. The possible sale, worth up to $328 million, covered 2,106 TOW
2A RF missiles plus 21 buy-to-fly missiles, and 1,404 TOW 2B RF missiles
plus 14 buy-to-fly missiles, as well as containers, spare and repair
parts and logistics services. The missiles were needed to enhance the
reliability of Kuwait's stock of existing TOWs, which were nearing the
end of their service lives.
The Defense Security Cooperation Agency announced on Sept. 9, 2008, that
Egypt requested the sale of TOW 2A missiles under the Foreign Military
Sales program. The potential deal, worth up to US$319 million, covered
6,900 missiles plus 28 fly-to-buy missiles, as well as containers, spare
and repair parts and associated logistics support. Egypt required the
missiles to update its aging inventory, the agency told the U.S.
Congress.
On June 14, 2010, Raytheon said it would develop an airborne launcher
designed to employ radio frequency-guided TOW missiles. The launcher
would be compatible with all past, current and future versions of the
TOW, according to a company release. The upgrade package would be
initially available to
Raytheon announced that it had received a $55 million contract on July
18, 2010, to deliver TOW 2A RF missiles as part of a Foreign Military
Sale to Saudi Arabia. TOW RF missiles include an RF transmitter added to
the missile case and an RF receiver located inside the missile.
On Sept. 14, 2011, the U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency
announced a potential US$53 million contract with Bahrain for Humvees,
TOW missiles and associated parts and logistical support. The possible
deal covered 44 M1152A1B2 armored HMMWVs; 200 BGM-71E-4B-RF radio
frequency TOW-2A; 7 fly-to-buy RF TOW-2A Missiles; 40 BGM-71F-3-RF
TOW-2B aero missiles; 7 fly-to-buy RF TOW-2B aero missiles; 50
BGM-71H-1RF Bunker Buster missiles (TOW-2A); 7 fly-to-buy RF Bunker
Buster missiles (TOW-2A); 48 TOW-2 launchers; AN/UAS-12A night sight
sets, spare and repair parts and associated logistics support.
Raytheon announced on Feb. 28, 2012, that it had successfully tested a
TOW missile with a new propulsion system developed by Alliant
Techsystems (ATK). The launch, boost, sustain (LBS) propulsion system
also incorporates a rocket motor designed with insensitive munitions
(IM) features for additional safety. The propulsion system doubles TOW's
range and reduces the missile's flight time by one-third, according to
Raytheon. During the trial, the missile flew more than 4 miles (7 km),
reaching 2.5 mi (4 km) in significantly less time than baseline
weapons.
The warhead weighs 13 lb (6.09 kg), with the precursor charge at the
front of the extending nose probe and the main charge at the front of
the missile body. It features an improved K-41 solid-propellant motor
that accelerates the missile to a top speed of 1,020 ft/sec (310 m/sec).
Maximum range is 2.5 mi (4 km) and it takes 21 sec to reach 2.33 mi
(3.75 km).
Over 34,000 have been delivered. A wireless version is available, which
offers greater reliability, improved over-water performance, no power
line restrictions and enhanced combined arms applications in various
environments.
Hughes (now Raytheon Missile Systems) received a development contract
for the TOW-2A in 1987.
The BGM-71F does not have a nose probe. It is 3 ft 10 in (1.17 m) long
and weighs 50 lb (22.7 kg). The warhead weighs 13.5 lb (6.14 kg).
In operation, the gunner sights on the tank, while the missile flight
path is biased upward to overfly the target at a predetermined height.
Following problems with U.S.-designed fuzes, the Army adopted a version
of the British Thorn-EMI proximity fuze used in the FITOW.
A development contract for the TOW 2B was awarded in 1988. Army
development and flight testing was completed in October 1990. Limited
production was approved in December 1990 with first deliveries in 1992.
The Marine Corps has selected the TOW 2B Aero with the improved target
acquisition system (ITAS) for its next-generation anti-armor weapon
system-heavy (AAWS-H) program.
The TOW Bunker Buster is also scheduled to receive the wireless RF
guidance data link.
This variant is slated to equip the anti-tank guided missile (ATGM)
variant of the Stryker armored vehicle.
The missile was announced in 1988 and entered production in late 1991.
In 1994, the FITOW entered British Army Air Corps service, fitted to
Weight of missile in container is 65 lb. (29.5 kg); tripod, night sight,
guidance equipment and batteries add an additional 158.7 lb. (72 kg).
Length is 4 ft 9 in (1.45 m), diameter 5.8 in (148 mm). Speed is 1,033
ft/sec (315 m/sec) and time to 4,374 yds (4,000 m) is 19.5 seconds.
Penetration is more than 1,000 mm RHA (rolled homogeneous armor).
In production by Israel Aircraft Industries.
Production for the U.S. Army began in 2006.
The ITAS includes a second-generation FLIR using Standard Advanced Dewar
Assembly (SADA II) technology and an eyesafe laser rangefinder, which
doubles the system's detection and identification ranges. It also
features an automatic boresighting capability, aided target tracking,
embedded training, BIT/BITE and traversing unit modifications to
increase the weapon's standoff range.
Canada has purchased the ITAS for integration with its TOW-armed LAV-III
vehicles.
The latest upgrade of the ITAS incorporates a global positioning
satellite-based position attitude determination subsystem (PADS). When
used with the laser rangefinder, the system provides a far target
location (FTL) capability that provides gunners with precise 10-digit
grid coordinates for their own position and for the selected target. The
new capability makes it possible to direct other weapon system fires and
to call in close-air support (CAS) or indirect artillery fires. The ITAS
FTL capability was used operationally in Afghanistan for the first time
in May 2008 by Destiny Co., 2nd Bn, 503rd Infantry (Airborne (AB)),
173rd AB Brigade Combat Team (BCT).
No TOW motors were produced at the
Two TOW missile explosions in September 1986 were unrelated to the
Soon after the TOW 2A was announced in 1987, evidence suggested that
some Russian tanks had stacked reactive armor, the first layer of which
detonates the probe, leaving the inner layer to deflect the HEAT
warhead. Another armor option would be a light layer of laminate armor
over the reactive armor. The TOW 2B was expected to be able to defeat
such measures by virtue of its depressed angle of attack from above.
An after-action report by the Marine Corps Systems Command following the
March-April 2003 war in Iraq stated that operators were extremely happy
with the performance of the TOW-2A and TOW-2B. There were some concerns
that the sensors in the TOW-2B could be distracted when fired over large
metal objects such as those found in and around oil fields, but the
TOW-2A reportedly did not display this problem. One major complaint
registered by all Marines interviewed in the report said operators
needed to be cross-trained on the older and newer TOW sights. Some
operators reportedly had difficulty identifying targets, while others
would follow the missile with the sight rather than keeping it trained
on the target. This resulted in the missile flying higher and higher
unless the operator corrected the mistake and refocused on the target in
time.
Israeli forces used TOWs in the 1973 Arab-Israeli War and the 1982
invasion of Lebanon.
The Moroccan air force is known to have employed TOWs against POLISARIO
units in the Western Sahara.
Iranian forces used TOWs against Iraqi tanks during the 1980-1988 Gulf
War.
In 1987, Pakistan utilized TOW IIs against Indian forces in the conflict
over the glacier region.
For Desert Storm, TOWs were deployed by the U.S. Army and Marine Corps
as well as by the British, Royal Saudi, Egyptian and Kuwaiti armies in
far greater numbers than any other ground- or vehicle-based anti-tank
missile. In the Marine Corps alone, for example, 582 M220E4 TOW
launchers were deployed with the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force (MEF) in
Saudi Arabia. Another 96 launchers remained with troops embarked on
landing ships in the northern Gulf.
During preparations for the ground war, TOW-equipped Marine Corps
LAV-25s reconnoitered Iraqi border positions, using the missiles as
bunker busters as well as against armored vehicles. At the battle of
Khafji (Jan. 30-31, 1991), Saudi TOW-equipped M113s engaged tanks as
well as hitting bunkers. U.S. Marine Corps Cobras with TOWs also
supported the Saudi-Qatari counterattack.
Marine Corps
U.S. Army
The U.S. Marine Corps used TOW-2A and TOW-2B in Iraq in the spring of
2003, with several operators reporting catastrophic kills when used
against Iraqi
British marine
Raytheon says that about 1,000 TOW missiles were fired in Afghanistan in
2009 and another 2,000 were utilized during the first six months of
2010. The figures included TOW 2A, 2B and Bunker Buster missiles.
Production of TOW 2A missiles was restarted after the top-attack TOW 2B
was found to be less effective in combat in Afghanistan.
LATEST UPDATE: 1 November 2011
PICTURES
STATUS
In production and in service.
BUILDER(S)
Hughes Aircraft, Canoga Park, Calif. (prime contractor)
Emerson Electric, St. Louis (launcher)
Texas Instruments, Dallas (digital systems)
McDonnell Douglas (second source contractor)
Guiado y Control, Spain (licensed manufacturer)
USERS/PLATFORMS
CHARACTERISTICS
WEIGHTS
BGM-71A/B TOW
total 41.7 lb (18.9 kg)
warhead 8.6 lb ( 3.9 kg)
BGM-71C ITOW
total 42.2 lb (19.1 kg)
warhead 8.6 lb ( 3.9 kg)
BGM-71D TOW 2
total 47.5 lb (21.5 kg)
warhead 13.0 lb ( 5.9 kg)
BGM-71E TOW 2A
total 50.0 lb (22.7 kg)
warhead 13.5 lb ( 6.1 kg)
Wireless TOW 2A
encased 63.8 lb (28.9 kg)
BGM-71F TOW 2B
total 50.0 lb (22.6 kg)
warhead 13.5 lb ( 6.1 kg)
TOW 2 Bunker Buster
total 66.6 lb (30.2 kg)
warhead 6.4 lb ( 2.9 kg)
TOW 2 Launcher 204.6 lb (92.8 kg)
DIMENSIONS
Configuration factory-sealed tube contains a cylindrical missile
body pop-out cruciform wings indexed 45 deg off
line from cruciform rudders; two rocket
exhausts at mid-body; two guidance wire spools
in tail
Length
without probe 3 ft 10 in (1.17 m)
Diameter 0 ft 6 in (152 mm)
Wingspan 1 ft 6 in (0.45 m)
Fin span 1 ft 1 in (0.34 m)
BGM-71C ITOW
length
probe extended 4 ft 9 in (1.45 m)
BGM-71D/E TOW 2/2A
length
probe extended 5 ft 0 in (1.53 m)
Container
length 4 ft 2 in (1.28 m)
diameter 0 ft 9 in (218 mm)
PROPULSION
Engine 2 x
VARIANTS
Basic TOW (BGM-71A)
Improved TOW (ITOW/BGM-71C)
TOW 2 (BGM-71D)
TOW 2A (BGM-71E)
TOW 2B (BGM-71F)
TOW 2B Aero
TOW Bunker Buster (BGM-71H)
Further Improved TOW (FITOW)
MAPATS (Laser TOW)
Wireless TOW
TOW Fire and Forget (FF)
M65
Airborne TOW system
M65L Laser-Augmented Airborne TOW (LAAT)
TOW Roof Sight (TRS)
C-NITE (
HELITOW
TOW Improved Target Acquisition System (ITAS)
Improved
ISSUES AND NOTES
A controversial arms sales to Iran disclosed in late 1986 included over
500 TOW missiles from Israeli stocks. The missiles were reportedly Basic
TOWs. A November 1987 report claimed that 20,000 more TOWs contracted
for in late 1984 were not delivered when the $264 million letter of
credit disappeared with the Iranian contact. London branches of the
troubled Bank of Credit and Commerce International (BCCI) were used to
bankroll the clandestine sale of 1,250 TOW missiles worth $9.375 million
to Iran in 1985, as reported in July 1991 by the Financial Times.
OPERATIONAL NOTES
The TOW missile was first used in May 1972 near Hue, South Vietnam, by
U.S. Army and Marine Corps infantry and airborne units. The success rate
for helicopter gunship launches was claimed to be 65 direct hits out of
81 launches (a bit over 80 percent).