Top attack
Encyclopedia
A top attack device is designed to attack armoured vehicles from above, as the armour
is usually thinnest at the top. Ideally, it will penetrate perpendicular
to the attacked surface. The device may be delivered (often as a submunition) by a missile
, artillery
shell
, or even an emplaced munition. Top attack munitions use either a high explosive anti-tank
(HEAT) warhead for direct impact or near impact, or an explosively formed penetrator
(EFP) warhead for over-flight of the target.
Armour
Armour or armor is protective covering used to prevent damage from being inflicted to an object, individual or a vehicle through use of direct contact weapons or projectiles, usually during combat, or from damage caused by a potentially dangerous environment or action...
is usually thinnest at the top. Ideally, it will penetrate perpendicular
Perpendicular
In geometry, two lines or planes are considered perpendicular to each other if they form congruent adjacent angles . The term may be used as a noun or adjective...
to the attacked surface. The device may be delivered (often as a submunition) by a missile
Missile
Though a missile may be any thrown or launched object, it colloquially almost always refers to a self-propelled guided weapon system.-Etymology:The word missile comes from the Latin verb mittere, meaning "to send"...
, artillery
Artillery
Originally applied to any group of infantry primarily armed with projectile weapons, artillery has over time become limited in meaning to refer only to those engines of war that operate by projection of munitions far beyond the range of effect of personal weapons...
shell
Shell (projectile)
A shell is a payload-carrying projectile, which, as opposed to shot, contains an explosive or other filling, though modern usage sometimes includes large solid projectiles properly termed shot . Solid shot may contain a pyrotechnic compound if a tracer or spotting charge is used...
, or even an emplaced munition. Top attack munitions use either a high explosive anti-tank
High explosive anti-tank
High explosive anti-tank warheads are made of an explosive shaped charge that uses the Munroe effect to create a very high-velocity partial stream of metal in a state of superplasticity that can punch through solid armor....
(HEAT) warhead for direct impact or near impact, or an explosively formed penetrator
Explosively Formed Penetrator
An explosively formed penetrator , also known as an explosively formed projectile, a self-forging warhead, or a self-forging fragment, is a special type of shaped charge designed to penetrate armour effectively at standoff distances...
(EFP) warhead for over-flight of the target.
Weapon systems using top attack
- BGM-71F TOWBGM-71 TOWThe BGM-71 TOW is an anti-tank missile. "BGM" is a weapon classification that stands for "Multiple Environment , Surface-Attack , Missile ". "TOW" is an acronym that stands for "Tube-launched, Optically-tracked, Wire command data link, guided missile"...
(USA) - BILL 2 Anti-tank guided weaponBILL 2 Anti-tank guided weaponThe BILL 2 Anti-Tank Guided Weapon is a man-portable or vehicle-mounted guided anti-tank missile using the overfly top attack method to attack the weaker parts of an armoured vehicle. The weapon is currently in service with the Swedish Army.-Design:...
(Sweden) - BLU-108BLU-108The BLU-108 is an air-delivered submunition, containing four further smart "Skeet" submunitions. The system is manufactured by Textron Defense Systems.- BLU-108/B specifications :* Length: 78.8 cm * Diameter: 13.3 cm...
(USA) - CBU-97CBU-97The CBU-97 Sensor Fuzed Weapon is a United States Air Force 1,000-pound-class non-guided Cluster Bomb Unit . It was developed and produced by Textron Defense Systems.-Overview:...
(USA) - PARS 3 LR (Germany)
- FGM-148 JavelinFGM-148 JavelinThe FGM-148 Javelin is a United States-made man-portable third generation anti-tank missile fielded to replace the Dragon antitank missile.-Overview:Javelin is a fire-and-forget missile with lock-on before launch and automatic self-guidance...
(USA) - KSTAMKSTAMThe KSTAM stands for Korean Smart Top-Attack Munition, and is a smart munition intended to be launched from the gun of a main battle tank, namely the K2 Black Panther...
(South Korea) - M93 HORNET mineM93 HORNET mineThe M93 HORNET mine is an American anti-tank mine, it is a wide-area mine, capable of attacking targets up to 100 meters away from its position.-Development:...
(USA) - MBT LAWMBT LAWThe Main Battle Tank and Light Anti-tank Weapon is a disposable, shoulder fired, short range fire-and-forget anti-tank missile system.-Overview:...
(Sweden) - NagNag missileNag is a Fourth generation "Fire-and-forget" anti-tank missile developed in India. It is one of five missile systems developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation under the Integrated Guided Missile Development Program...
(India) - SADARM (USA)
- SpikeSpike (missile)Spike is a fourth generation man-portable fire-and-forget anti-tank guided missile with tandem-charged HEAT warhead, developed and designed by the Israeli company Rafael Advanced Defense Systems and in service with a number of nations....
(Israel) - Type 01 LMATType 01 LMATThe is a Japanese man-portable fire-and-forget anti-tank missile. Development began in 1993 at Kawasaki Heavy Industries and was accepted into service in 2001. During development, the missile was designated with the codename XATM-5...
(Japan) - OMTAS (Turkey)