Wire-guided missile
Encyclopedia
A wire-guided missile is a missile
that is guided by signals sent to it via thin wires connected between the missile and its guidance mechanism, which is located somewhere near the launch site. As the missile flies, the wires are reeled out behind it. This guidance system is most commonly used in anti-tank missiles, where its ability to be used in areas of limited line-of-sight make it useful, while the range limit imposed by the length of the wire is not a serious concern.
The longest range wire-guided missiles in current use are limited to about 2.5 miles. The Tube-Launched, Optically Tracked, Wire-Guided Missile System (TOW) has a range of 3,750 metres but it would be unlikely to be used at extreme range.
during World War II
. Most German guided missile projects used radio control
, but as the British
proved to be able to jam anything they used, rushed projects were started in 1944 in order to develop alternatives. The first system to be modified in this fashion was the Henschel
Hs 293B
anti-shipping missile. Other examples included the X-4 anti-aircraft missile, and the X-7 anti-tank version of the X-4.
The X-7 influenced other military thinkers after the war. By the early 1950s a number of experimental systems had been developed (see, e.g. Malkara missile
), leading to their widespread deployment in the late 1950s and early 1960s. Large numbers of Israel
i tanks were destroyed using wire guided AT-3 Sagger
missiles during the Yom Kippur War
of 1973. Wire guidance has remained the main system for most smaller weapons, although newer systems such as laser
beam riding
have come into use in anti-aircraft and some anti-tank use roles (e.g. the US
Hellfire missile and the Russia
n AT-14 Kornet).
Some torpedo
es can be wire-guided, such as the U.S. Mk 48 Advanced Capability (ADCAP)
torpedo, or the Swedish Torped 613
, which is guided by a thin copper wire encased in a high-resistance plastic polymer.
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"...
that is guided by signals sent to it via thin wires connected between the missile and its guidance mechanism, which is located somewhere near the launch site. As the missile flies, the wires are reeled out behind it. This guidance system is most commonly used in anti-tank missiles, where its ability to be used in areas of limited line-of-sight make it useful, while the range limit imposed by the length of the wire is not a serious concern.
The longest range wire-guided missiles in current use are limited to about 2.5 miles. The Tube-Launched, Optically Tracked, Wire-Guided Missile System (TOW) has a range of 3,750 metres but it would be unlikely to be used at extreme range.
History
Electrical wire guidance was first employed by the GermansGermany
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...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. Most German guided missile projects used radio control
Radio control
Radio control is the use of radio signals to remotely control a device. The term is used frequently to refer to the control of model vehicles from a hand-held radio transmitter...
, but as the British
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...
proved to be able to jam anything they used, rushed projects were started in 1944 in order to develop alternatives. The first system to be modified in this fashion was the Henschel
Henschel & Son
Henschel & Son was a German company, situated in Kassel, best known during the 20th century as a maker of transportation equipment, including locomotives, trucks, buses and trolleybuses, and armoured fighting vehicles and weapons....
Hs 293B
Henschel Hs 293
The Henschel Hs 293 was a World War II German anti-ship guided missile: a radio-controlled glide bomb with a rocket engine slung underneath it. It was designed by Herbert A. Wagner.- History :...
anti-shipping missile. Other examples included the X-4 anti-aircraft missile, and the X-7 anti-tank version of the X-4.
The X-7 influenced other military thinkers after the war. By the early 1950s a number of experimental systems had been developed (see, e.g. Malkara missile
Malkara missile
The Malkara missile was one of the earliest anti-tank guided missiles . It was jointly developed by Australia and the United Kingdom between 1951 and 1954, and was in service from 1958 until gradually replaced by the Swingfire missile in the late 1960s...
), leading to their widespread deployment in the late 1950s and early 1960s. Large numbers of Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
i tanks were destroyed using wire guided AT-3 Sagger
AT-3 Sagger
The 9K11 Malyutka is a Manual Command to Line-of-Sight wire-guided anti-tank guided missile developed in the Soviet Union. It was the first man-portable anti-tank guided missile of the Soviet Union and is probably the most widely produced ATGM of all time—with Soviet production peaking at...
missiles during the Yom Kippur War
Yom Kippur War
The Yom Kippur War, Ramadan War or October War , also known as the 1973 Arab-Israeli War and the Fourth Arab-Israeli War, was fought from October 6 to 25, 1973, between Israel and a coalition of Arab states led by Egypt and Syria...
of 1973. Wire guidance has remained the main system for most smaller weapons, although newer systems such as 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...
beam riding
Beam riding
Beam-riding, also known as beam guidance, is a technique of directing a missile to its target by means of radar or a laser beam. The name refers to the way the missile flies down the guidance beam, which is aimed at the target...
have come into use in anti-aircraft and some anti-tank use roles (e.g. the US
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Hellfire missile and the Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n AT-14 Kornet).
Some torpedo
Torpedo
The modern torpedo is a self-propelled missile weapon with an explosive warhead, launched above or below the water surface, propelled underwater towards a target, and designed to detonate either on contact with it or in proximity to it.The term torpedo was originally employed for...
es can be wire-guided, such as the U.S. Mk 48 Advanced Capability (ADCAP)
Mark 48 torpedo
The Mark 48 and its improved ADCAP variant are heavyweight submarine-launched torpedoes. They were designed to sink fast, deep-diving nuclear-powered submarines and high-performance surface ships.-History:...
torpedo, or the Swedish Torped 613
Torped 613
Torped 613 is an older heavyweight torpedo still in use by the Swedish Navy. It is wire-guided and has a passive sonar sensor, which sends back information through the wire. The torpedo was developed in the 1970s as an cooperation project between Denmark, Norway and Sweden...
, which is guided by a thin copper wire encased in a high-resistance plastic polymer.
Timeline
This is a timeline of notable early wire-guided missiles.- 1945 X-4 missile in production in Germany.
- 1955 SS.10SS.10SS.10 is the designation of the Nord Aviation MCLOS wire-guided anti-tank missile designed by French engineer Jean Bastien-Thiry. In American service the missile was called the MGM-21A. The missile entered service in 1955 with the French army. It was used briefly by the US army in the early 1960s...
enters service with the French army. - 1956 Vickers VigilantVickers VigilantThe Vickers Vigilant was a British MCLOS wire guided anti-tank missile used by the British Army. It was licence-built for the US Marine Corps by Clevite in the USA.-History:...
- 1957 ENTACENTACEntac or MGM-32A was a French MCLOS wire-guided Anti-tank missile. Developed in the early 1950s, the missile entered service with the French army in 1957...
enters service with the French army. - 1958 Malkara missileMalkara missileThe Malkara missile was one of the earliest anti-tank guided missiles . It was jointly developed by Australia and the United Kingdom between 1951 and 1954, and was in service from 1958 until gradually replaced by the Swingfire missile in the late 1960s...
enters service with the British and Australian armies. - 1960 AT-1 Snapper / 3M6 ShmelAT-1 SnapperThe 3M6 Shmel is the MCLOS wire-guided Anti-tank missile of the Soviet Union. "3M6" is its GRAU designation. Its NATO reporting name is AT-1 Snapper.Too large to be manportable, it was typically deployed from specialised vehicles or helicopters...
enters service in the Soviet Union. - 1960 SwingfireSwingfireSwingfire was a British wire-guided anti-tank missile developed in the 1960s and produced from 1966 until 1993.-Development:Swingfire was developed by Fairey Engineering Ltd and the British Aircraft Corporation. It replaced the Vickers Vigilant missile in British service...
- 1963 AT-3 Sagger / 9M14 MalyutkaAT-3 SaggerThe 9K11 Malyutka is a Manual Command to Line-of-Sight wire-guided anti-tank guided missile developed in the Soviet Union. It was the first man-portable anti-tank guided missile of the Soviet Union and is probably the most widely produced ATGM of all time—with Soviet production peaking at...
enters service in the Soviet Union. - 1970 BGM-71 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"...
enters service with the US Army. - 1972 MILANMILANMILAN " is French and German for "kite bird") is a European anti-tank guided missile. Design of the MILAN started in 1962. It was ready for trials in 1971, and was accepted for service in 1972. It is a wire guided SACLOS missile, which means the sight of the launch unit has to be aimed at the...
is accepted for service with the French Army. - 1976 AT-6 Spiral / 9K113 Shturm is accepted for service in the Soviet Union.
See also
- Guided missileGuided MissileGuided Missile is a London based independent record label set up by Paul Kearney in 1994.Guided Missile has always focused on 'the underground', preferring to put out a steady flow of releases and developing the numerous GM events around London and beyond....
- Missile guidanceMissile guidanceMissile guidance refers to a variety of methods of guiding a missile or a guided bomb to its intended target. The missile's target accuracy is a critical factor for its effectiveness...
- Semi automatic command line of sightSACLOSSACLOS is an acronym for Semi-Automatic Command to Line of Sight, a second-generation method of missile guidance. In SACLOS, the operator has to continually point a sighting device at the target while the missile is in flight...
- Manual command line of sightMCLOSMCLOS is a first-generation method for guiding guided missiles.With an MCLOS missile, the operator must track the missile and the target simultaneously and guide the missile to the target. Typically the missile is steered with a joystick, and its path is observed through a periscope-type...