MILAN
| MILAN | |
|---|---|
MILAN launcher mounted on French Army VBL
|
|
| Type | Anti-tank missile |
| Place of origin | France / West Germany |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1972–present |
| Used by | See operators |
| Wars | South African Border War Chadian-Libyan conflict Toyota War Falklands War Gulf War 2003 invasion of Iraq Iraq War Libyan Civil War Second Libyan Civil War[1] Northern Mali Conflict Syrian Civil War[2][3][4] Iraqi Civil War[5] 2017 Iraqi–Kurdish conflict |
| Production history | |
| Designed | 1970s |
| Manufacturer | MBDA, MKEK (under license) |
| Unit cost | £7,500 (1984)[6] |
| Produced | 1972 |
| No. built | 350,000 missiles, 10,000 launchers |
| Variants | See variants |
| Specifications | |
| Weight | 7.1 kg |
| Length | 1.2 m |
| Diameter | 0.115 m |
| Warhead | Single or tandem HEAT |
|
Detonation
mechanism |
contact |
|
|
|
| Engine | solid-fuel rocket |
| Wingspan | 0.26 m |
|
Operational
range |
200–2000 m; 3000 m (MILAN ER) |
| Speed | 200 m/s |
|
Guidance
system |
SACLOS wire |
|
Steering
system |
Jet deflector |
|
Launch
platform |
Individual, vehicle |
MILAN (French: Missile d´infanterie léger antichar; English: Light anti-tank infantry missile, milan is French for kite) 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 (semi-automatic command to line-of-sight) missile, which means the sight of the launch unit has to be aimed at the target to guide the missile. The MILAN can be equipped with a MIRA or MILIS thermal sight to give it night-firing ability.
Contents
Background[edit]
MILAN is a product of Euromissile, a Franco-West German missile development program dating back to the 1960s. The system entered service in 1972 as a second generation anti-tank weapon and soon became a standard anti-tank weapon throughout NATO, in use by most of the alliance's individual armies.[7] Consisting of two main components, the launcher and the missile, the MILAN system utilizes a semi-automatic command to line of sight (SACLOS) command guidance that guides the projectile either by infrared radiation or by an electronic-flash lamp, depending on the model. Because it is guided by wire by an operator, the missile cannot be affected by radio jamming or flares. However, drawbacks include its short range, the exposure of the operator, problems with overland powerlines, and a vulnerability to infrared jammers such as Shtora that can prevent the automatic tracking of the missile's IR tail light.[citation needed]
The MILAN 2 variant entered service with the French, German and British armies in 1984 which utilizes an improved 115 mm HEAT warhead. The MILAN 3 entered service with the French army in 1995 and features a new-generation localizer that makes the system more difficult to electronically jam.[8]
Variants[edit]
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- MILAN 1: Single, main shaped charge warhead (1972), calibre 103 mm
- MILAN 2: Single, main shaped charge warhead, with standoff probe to increase penetration (1984) – see photo to right, calibre 115 mm
- MILAN 2T: Single main shaped charge, with smaller shape charge warhead at end of standoff probe to defeat reactive armour (1993)
- MILAN 3: Tandem, shaped charge warheads (1996) and electronic beacon
- MILAN ER: Extended range (3,000 m) and improved penetration
The later MILAN models have tandem HEAT warheads. This was done to keep pace with developments in Soviet armour technology – Soviet tanks began to appear with explosive reactive armour, which could defeat earlier ATGMs. The smaller precursor HEAT warhead penetrates and detonates the ERA tiles, paving the way for the main HEAT warhead to penetrate the armour behind.
Combat use[edit]
Afghanistan[edit]
MILAN missile systems were among the numerous weapons sent to the Mujahideen in Afghanistan in the 1980s by the United States to combat Soviet troops.[9] The MILAN had a devastating effect on Soviet armor, having a similar effect on tanks and armored personnel carriers as Stinger missiles had had on Soviet helicopters.[10] In 2010, French troops accidentally killed four Afghan civilians in Kapisa Province using a MILAN system during a firefight.[11]
Chadian–Libyan conflict[edit]
MILAN missiles provided by the French government saw common usage during war between Chad and Libya where they were used by Chadian forces. Often mounted on Toyota pickup trucks, the missiles successfully engaged Libyan armor in the Aouzou Strip including T-55 tanks on many occasions.[12]
Gulf War[edit]
MILANs were used by both coalition and Iraqi forces during Persian Gulf War, with one MILAN launcher operated by French forces having destroyed seven T-55 tanks.[13]
Iraq[edit]
Iraq operated MILAN missiles supplied by French government during 80s. Those missiles were used by Iraqi forces during both Gulf Wars. During the 2003 invasion of Iraq, a British Challenger 2 tank survived a direct hit from a MILAN missile.[14]
In 2015, Germany supplied the Peshmerga with 30 MILAN launchers and over 500 missiles.[15][16] Those missiles were mostly used against ISIS forces, but on 20 October during the 2017 Iraqi–Kurdish conflict, Kurdish forces destroyed an Iraqi M1 Abrams tank and several Humvees using the MILANs.[17][18]
Operators[edit]
Current operators[edit]
Afghanistan – Afghan National Army
Armenia – Armed Forces of Armenia[19]
Brazil – Brazilian Army
Belgium – Belgian Army: Infantry weapon; replaced by Spike-LR in 2014[20]
Chad – Chadian Ground Forces: Infantry weapon.
Cyprus – Cypriot National Guard 45 launchers
Estonia – Estonian Defence Forces
Egypt – Egyptian Army: Mounted on light vehicles. 220 units are used.
France – French Army: Infantry and vehicle-mounted weapon. Will be replaced by Missile Moyenne Portée (MMP) from 2017.[21]
Germany – Bundeswehr: Mounted primarily on Marder and TPz Fuchs fighting vehicles; to be replaced by EUROSPIKE.
Greece – Hellenic Army 400 Launchers
India – Indian Army: Infantry and vehicle-mounted weapon. Around 30,000 built under license by Bharat Dynamics. The Indian Army has also spent close to US$120 million on 4,100 new MILAN-2T ATGMs.[22]
Iraq – Iraqi Army: One reportedly hit a British Challenger 2 MBT during the early stages of Operation Telic along with multiple rocket-propelled grenades. The tank survived the attack.
Kurdistan – Peshmerga: 30 launchers and 500 missiles, delivery in two portions was announced on August 31, 2014 by German Bundeswehr. These are 1980s Milan 2 replaced by later models but still in storage.[23][24] Used by the Kurds to stop ISIL vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices (VBIEDs).[25] Usage of Milan 2 against Daesh (IS) VBIED in Iraq and Syria 2015/16 see here.
Italy – Italian Army: Infantry weapon. Built under license by Oto Melara[citation needed]; Total of 714 launchers with 17,163 missile delivered in 1990. 807 MILAN 2T ordered in 2004 and delivered in 2005 (SIPRI).[26]
Kenya – Kenyan Army: Infantry weapon.
Lebanon – Lebanese Army
Libya – Libyan National Army
Macedonia - Army of the Republic of Macedonia
Mauritania – Mauritanian Army
Mexico – Mexican Army (Ejército Mexicano): Mounted primarily on Panhard VBL scout cars; at least 16 launchers and several hundred missiles are available.
Morocco – Royal Moroccan Army
Pakistan – Pakistan Army[citation needed]
Portugal – Portuguese Army; Portuguese Marines
PKK : As per the Der Spiegel, PKK acquired the MILAN anti tank missiles [27]
South Africa – South African Army: 375 missiles.[28][29][30][31][32]
Spain – Spanish Army: Upgraded to MILAN 2/2T.
Syria – Syrian Army: About 1000 missiles used in the anti-vehicular role.
Free Syrian Army: Some captured.[33]
Tunisia – Tunisian Armed Forces: 120 missiles.[28]
Turkey – Turkish Army
Uruguay – Uruguayan Army
Yemen – Yemeni security forces
Former operators[edit]
Australia – Australian Army: Was used by infantry and mounted on vehicles. The Australian Army withdrew the MILAN from service in the early 1990s. The ADF now fields the FGM-148 Javelin system.
Ireland – Irish Army: Infantry weapon; replaced by the FGM-148 Javelin.
Singapore – Singapore Army: Replaced by the Israeli Spike.
UNITA: 150 missiles.[28]
United Kingdom – British Army; Royal Marines – While primarily an infantry weapon, it was also used in the FV120 Spartan MCT turret. Over 50,000 missiles were purchased for use in the British Armed Forces. The MILAN was deployed against Argentine bunkers in the Falklands conflict[34] and later against T-55s during the Persian Gulf War.[35] It was replaced by the FGM-148 Javelin in mid-2005. Previously made under license by British Aerospace Dynamics.[36]
Gallery[edit]
-
A Bundeswehr Marder infantry fighting vehicle fires a MILAN.
-
MILAN, 2007
-
German Army MILAN equipped with an AGDUS combat simulator
-
Vehicle mounted launcher and missiles in Egyptian service during Operation Desert Shield, 1992.
-
Missile impact on a training target, 2001.
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- Notes
- ^ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g_4SFCOe1Go
- ^ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wjXFBpYY1SI
- ^ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yDqtst0Ql3E
- ^ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eRytJo29JW0
- ^ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7bx-DH-XbT4
- ^ Pattie, Geoffrey. "Weapons and Equipment (Costs)". millbanksystems. millbanksystems. Retrieved 21 May 2016.
- ^ ARG. "MILAN Anti-Tank Guided Missile". Military-Today.com. Retrieved 2018-03-10.
- ^ Pike, John (2018-03-09). "Milan". GlobalSecurity.org. Retrieved 2018-03-10.
- ^ Bobi Pirseyedi (2000). The Small Arms Problem in Central Asia: Features and Implications. United Nations Publications UNIDIR. pp. 17–. ISBN 978-92-9045-134-1.
- ^ Jack Devine; Vernon Loeb (3 June 2014). Good Hunting: An American Spymaster's Story. Farrar, Straus and Giroux. pp. 103–. ISBN 978-0-374-13032-9.
- ^ "French army claims responsibility for four civilian deaths in Afghanistan". France 24. 2010-04-29. Retrieved 2018-03-10.
- ^ https://www.nytimes.com/1987/08/16/opinion/topics-of-the-times-toyotas-and-tanks.html
- ^ Jayhawk!: the VII Corps in the Persian Gulf War. Stephen Alan Bourque, United States. Dept. of the Army.
- ^ http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/2908679.stm
- ^ http://www.rudaw.net/english/kurdistan/130420152
- ^ https://www.handelsblatt.com/politik/international/kampf-gegen-is-mehr-deutsche-waffen-fuer-kurden/11340368.html
- ^ https://www.rt.com/news/407356-iraq-kurdistan-battle-government-peshmerga/
- ^ http://lostarmour.info/iraq/item.php?id=16603
- ^ "Armenia purchases France-Germany co-produced anti-tank missile systems". Apa.az. 1 July 2013. Retrieved 18 July 2013.
- ^ Belgium selects Spike missile to replace Milan – Armyrecognition.com, January 3, 2013
- ^ France Orders Anti-Tank Missile from MBDA – Defensenews.com, 5 December 2013
- ^ http://www.india-defence.com/reports-4183
- ^ "Unterstützung der Regierung der Autonomen Region Irakisch-Kurdistan bei der Versorgung der Flüchtlinge und beim Kampf gegen den Islamischen Staat im Nordirak (PDF)" (PDF). German Bundeswehr (in German). 31 August 2014. Retrieved 1 September 2014.
- ^ "Irak: Deutschland schickt Kurden Panzerabwehrraketen". Spiegel Online (in German). 31 August 2014. Retrieved 31 August 2014.
- ^ French, American Weapons Take Toll on ISIS in Ground Combat - Military.com, 16 November 2015
- ^ https://web.archive.org/web/20140423064933/http://www.revestito.it/?id1=101&idaux=101&wiki=Forze_armate_mondiali_dal_secondo_dopoguerra_al_XXI_secolo%2FItalia%3A_esercito_3
- ^ "Kampf gegen IS-Miliz: Ausrüstung der Bundeswehr möglicherweise in die Hände der PKK gelangt". Der Spiegel. Retrieved 2015-02-14.
- ^ a b c "Trade Registers". Armstrade.sipri.org. Retrieved 2013-06-20.
- ^ B A Lowe (4 January 2009). "SADF Arms Purchases". Retrieved 15 December 2016.
75 MILAN launchers ordered in 1973 and delivered in 1974
- ^ Moukambi, Victor (December 2008). RELATIONS BETWEEN SOUTH AFRICA AND FRANCE WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO MILITARY MATTERS, 1960-1990 (PDF) (Doctoral dissertation thesis). Stellenbosch: Military Science, Stellenbosch University. p. 116. Retrieved 28 April 2017.
In December 1973, it was reported that [Pretoria] signed a contract.. for the supply of 50 Matra 550 air-to-air missiles ..[and] a contract over the supply of 1500 Milan missiles. Source: French Defence Ministry; Historical Archives, Paris, Box No. 14 S 295, Monthly report of the French Military Attaché in South Africa, Imports from France, November 1973. Report of the French Military Attaché in South Africa, November 1973.
- ^ Leon Engelbrecht (8 October 2008). "SANDF Army, SOF "operationalising" MILAN". Retrieved 15 December 2016.
The launchers were received in 1974, but were placed in storage in 1996. SA employed the MILAN in combat in southern Angola in the 1980s. Under Project Kingfisher, 30 launchers were upgraded to Milan ADT-ER status and 300 missiles were acquired for R167.4 million.
- ^ Leon Engelbrecht (24 May 2011). "SA Army stocks up on Milan 3". Retrieved 15 December 2016.
The SANDF has ordered an undisclosed further number of Milan missiles..The R57 990 630.80 purchase order was awarded to Euromissile [sic] last week. It takes the known value of Project Kingfisher – according to the Armscor Bulletin System (ABS) – to R271 076 483.37...The Kingfisher contract was placed on December 20, 2006, and initially escaped media notice. In March 2009 the military ordered a further 13 Milan ADT firing posts and four simulators under a contract worth €10.7 million (about R129.3 million at then exchange rates, but R81.5 million on the ABS.
- ^ Syrian rebels captured ammunition depot with Milan / Konkurs anti-tank missiles and rockets Archived 2013-08-10 at the Wayback Machine. – Armyrecognition.com, 5 August 2013
- ^ http://britains-smallwars.com/Falklands/b-weapons.htm#milan Archived 2005-12-02 at the Wayback Machine.
- ^ Zaloga (2004), p. 36.
- ^ http://www.armedforces.co.uk/army/listings/l0040.html
External links[edit]
 |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to MILAN. |
- Technical data sheet on the website of MBDA
- GlobalSecurity.org
- Information about The British Army's Milan 2
- Video link
