The Next Generation Light Anti-Tank Weapon (NLAW) is the first ever single soldier missile system that rapidly knocks out any Main Battle Tank (MBT) in just one shot by striking it from above.
The one-man-portable NLAW gives infantry the power to destroy immediately the most advanced MBT, wherever and whenever it appears within combat range, with only one shot.
NLAW is built upon well-proven technologies including warhead, guidance, fuze, confined space and insensitive munition.
Further improvements, in combination with the latest state-of-the-art advances, have created a powerful and precise anti-tank missile system.
Predicted line of sight (PLOS)
The soldier tracks the target for a few seconds before firing. The missile’s guidance electronics record the soldier’s aiming movement, and calculate the predicted target route and flight path from missile system to target.
NLAW uses state-of-the-art technology to achieve the highest possible effect upon impact and to overcome common firing difficulties, such as range estimation, wind direction and target speed.
Attack Modes
Against tanks and other armoured targets, Overfly Top Attack (OTA) mode is used. The missile flies about one metre above the line of sight, and the warhead initiates above the target’s roof – the most vulnerable part. Against non-armoured targets, Direct Attack (DA) mode is used. The missile then flies on the line of sight, the sensors are disconnected and the warhead initiates on impact.
Easy to integrate
NLAW, a maintenance-free, disposable weapon is easy to integrate into existing operational and maintenance organisations. The system enables combat units to act with a true tank killing capability, down to individual soldier level in any scenario or environment.
NLAW is an easy-to-use system, and relatively little training is needed. No live firing is required, and both indoor and outdoor trainers are available for improving basic skills, as well as team and tactical force-on-force training.
COMBINING THE BEST CAPABILITIES
NLAW combines the simplicity of light anti-armour weapons with the advantages of heavy, crew-operated guided missile systems. An MBT can be destroyed upon target detection, without mounting a larger system, loading the weapon and, in some cases, completing a lock-on to launch sequence.
NLAW gives the individual modern soldier a weapon to stop and destroy almost any target with one shot
– making it an invaluable support to other weapons, and creating the complete combat unit.
Paolo Mazzone
SubEng – HSE Adviser
Cover Image Courtesy of SAAB
‘Copyright Saab AB’
Image and Video Courtesy of Saab
