MAPATS
Encyclopedia
MAPATS is a laser-beam riding
anti-tank guided missile
developed by Israel Military Industries
as a possible successor to U.S. wire-guided BGM-71 TOW
.
MAPATS is capable of day and night operation, while the gunner has to direct his laser designator
on the target until the missile impacts. First revealed in 1984, it has no trailing wire; so it can be fired over water at naval targets or from sea to land, unlike wire-guided ATGMs. The launcher has an elevation capacity up to +30°, so MAPATS can be used in the anti-helicopter role. Externally, MAPATS is very similar in appearance to the TOW 2
.
warhead and the HE bunker buster warhead.
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...
anti-tank guided missile
Anti-tank guided missile
An anti-tank missile , anti-tank guided missile , anti-tank guided weapon or anti-armor guided weapon is a guided missile primarily designed to hit and destroy heavily-armored military vehicles....
developed by Israel Military Industries
Israel Military Industries
Israel Weapons Industries , formerly the "Magen" division of the Israel Military Industries Ltd. is an Israeli firearms manufacturer. In 2005, the Small Arms Division of IMI was privatized....
as a possible successor to U.S. wire-guided BGM-71 TOW
BGM-71 TOW
The 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"...
.
MAPATS is capable of day and night operation, while the gunner has to direct his laser designator
Laser designator
A laser designator is a laser light source which is used to designate a target. Laser designators provide targeting for laser guided bombs, missiles, or precision artillery munitions, such as the Paveway series of bombs, Lockheed-Martin's Hellfire, or the Copperhead round, respectively.When a...
on the target until the missile impacts. First revealed in 1984, it has no trailing wire; so it can be fired over water at naval targets or from sea to land, unlike wire-guided ATGMs. The launcher has an elevation capacity up to +30°, so MAPATS can be used in the anti-helicopter role. Externally, MAPATS is very similar in appearance to the TOW 2
BGM-71 TOW
The 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"...
.
Versions
The newer version of MAPATS, developed in the early 1990s, has a new engine and better laser guidance. Some new warheads were developed by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, including the tandem HEATHeat
In physics and thermodynamics, heat is energy transferred from one body, region, or thermodynamic system to another due to thermal contact or thermal radiation when the systems are at different temperatures. It is often described as one of the fundamental processes of energy transfer between...
warhead and the HE bunker buster warhead.
Characteristics
- Effective range: 300 - 6,000 meters
- Length: 148 cm
- Diameter: 156 mm
- Weight
- Missile itself: 18 kg
- Missile in canister: 29 kg
- Launcher: 66 kg
- Propulsion: 2 stage solid rocket motor
- Penetration: 1,200 mm
- Guidance: IRInfraredInfrared 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...
-laser-beam ridingBeam ridingBeam-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... - Warhead: HEATHeatIn physics and thermodynamics, heat is energy transferred from one body, region, or thermodynamic system to another due to thermal contact or thermal radiation when the systems are at different temperatures. It is often described as one of the fundamental processes of energy transfer between...
, HE