ARGES mine
Encyclopedia
ARGES is an off-route anti-tank mine, developed by an international consortium to meet the needs of the British
, French
and German
armed forces. The system consists of a rocket and launch tube, a tripod and a sensor package.
The sensor package has an acoustic sensor that detects the approach of a suitable target and activates the passive infrared
and laser
sensors which trigger the launch of the rocket when the target passes in front of it.
The rocket uses a modified version of the motor from the LAW 80
anti-tank rocket, and has a tandem HEAT warhead, enabling it to penetrate the side armour of all main battle tanks, including those protected with Reactive armour
. The rocket has a range of between two and ninety meters, with the hit probability at ninety meters being 97%.
The mine is highly programmable with an active window of between three hours and forty days, to choose a specific target in a convoy, as well as the ability to be re-programmed. The system can also be command initiated.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
armed forces. The system consists of a rocket and launch tube, a tripod and a sensor package.
The sensor package has an acoustic sensor that detects the approach of a suitable target and activates the passive infrared
Infrared
Infrared light is electromagnetic radiation with a wavelength longer than that of visible light, measured from the nominal edge of visible red light at 0.74 micrometres , and extending conventionally to 300 µm...
and laser
Laser
A laser is a device that emits light through a process of optical amplification based on the stimulated emission of photons. The term "laser" originated as an acronym for Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation...
sensors which trigger the launch of the rocket when the target passes in front of it.
The rocket uses a modified version of the motor from the LAW 80
LAW 80
The LAW 80 , sometimes erroneously referred to as LAW 94, is a man-portable, disposable anti-tank weapon currently in use by the British Army and a few other militaries.-Description:...
anti-tank rocket, and has a tandem HEAT warhead, enabling it to penetrate the side armour of all main battle tanks, including those protected with Reactive armour
Reactive armour
Reactive armour is a type of vehicle armour that reacts in some way to the impact of a weapon to reduce the damage done to the vehicle being protected. It is most effective in protecting against shaped charges and specially hardened long rod penetrators...
. The rocket has a range of between two and ninety meters, with the hit probability at ninety meters being 97%.
The mine is highly programmable with an active window of between three hours and forty days, to choose a specific target in a convoy, as well as the ability to be re-programmed. The system can also be command initiated.
Specifications
- Weight: 18 to 22 kg quoted.
- Length: 1.02 m
- Height: from 230 mm to 700 mm
- Range: 2 to 97 m
- Traverse: -45 degrees to + 45 degrees