BGM-71 TOW
Owned By
| Operator: | Status: | Number in Service (On Order)*: | Cost: | Acquired: | |
| Bahrain | In Service | <270 | $53 million (2011) | 1st batch 2001-2002; 2nd batch requested September 2011 | |
| Egypt | In Service | <11,200 | $319 mil for 6,928 (2008) | 3 batches between 1998-2012 | |
| Israel | In Service | <2,400 | $132 mil (2002) | 2003-2004 | |
| Jordan | In Service / On Order | ~1,230 (Unknown) | Part of $52 mil for 400 (2002) | 4 batches between 2001-2016 (additional unspecified order made in May 2016) | |
| Kuwait | In Service | <3,100 | 2009-2011 | ||
| Lebanon | In Service | <1,200 | 1st batch $10 million; 2nd batch $245 million (2015) | Requested and delivered in 2015 | |
| Morocco | In Service / Requested | <600 (1,200) | $96 million (2015); $101 million (2016) | 2015; 2nd batch requested in December 2016 | |
| Oman | In Service / On Order | <560 (400) | 2nd order $51 million (2016) | 1st batch 2002-2003; 2nd batch requested in January 2016 | |
| Free Syrian Army | In Service | >1,000 | Donated by Saudi Arabia with Turkish, Qatari, and American assistance | April 2014 | |
| Saudi Arabia | In Service | >10,000 | $177 mil deal for 700 (2010); $170 million (2013); $900 million (2013) | 8 batches between 1976-present | |
| Tunisia | In Service | <180 | 2006 | ||
| Turkey | In Service | ~7000 | 3 batches between 1973-1996 | ||
| General Specs | BGM-71E TOW 2A | ||||
| Country of origin: | United States | ||||
| Manufacturer: | Raytheon (Initially designed by Hughes Aircraft) | ||||
| Introduced: | 1970 | ||||
| Guidance: | Command to line of sight wire-guided using Improved Target Acquisition System (ITAS) with second generation infrared and laser rangefinder | ||||
| Range: | 213.3 ft (65 m) – 12,303 ft/2.3 miles (3,750 m) | ||||
| Missile length: | 50.6 in (128.4 cm) | ||||
| Missile diameter: | 8.6 in (21.9 cm) | ||||
| Missile weight: | 64.1 lbs (29.1 kg) | ||||
| Launcher length*: | 42.5 in (108 cm) | ||||
| Launcher weight*: | 204.6 lbs (92.89 kg) | ||||
| Warhead type: | 7 lbs (3.2 kg) high explosive anti-tank (HEAT) with standoff probe with precursor charge designed to defeat reactive armor | ||||
| Armor penetration: | 27.6 in (700 mm) | ||||
| Missile velocity: | 1079 fps (329 mps) | ||||
| Launch platform: | Dismounted tripod, truck or armored vehicle mounted, or helicopter launched | ||||
| Notes: | Dismounted weapon components includes tripod, fire control system, battery, launch tube, target acquisition system, and reloadable encased missiles | ||||
| Missiles have 15 year shelf life | |||||
| Iran developed its own copy called the ‘Toophan‘ | |||||
| *Number of missiles, not launchers | |||||
Sources:
- “Tube-launched, Optically-tracked, Wireless-guided (TOW) Weapon System.”Raytheon Company. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Apr. 2014.
- “TOW Improved Target Acquisition System (ITAS).” Raytheon Company. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Apr. 2014.
- “Improved Target Acquisition System, M41.” US Army Field Manual. Department of the Army, 8 July 2005. Web. 15 Apr. 2014.
- “TOW Weapon System.” Close Combat Weapon Systems Project Office. Department of the Army, n.d. Web. 15 Apr. 2014.
- Howard, Truman W., and Gary D. Davis. “Challanges in Missile Life Cycle System Engineering.” US Army Missile Command. Department of the Army, Aug. 1997. Web. 15 Apr. 2014.
- “M-220 Tube-launched, Optically Tracked, Wire-guided Missile (TOW).”Federation of American Scientists. N.p., 22 Feb. 2000. Web. 15 Apr. 2014.
- “Trade Registers.” Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Apr. 2014.
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