Swingfire is a wire-guided anti-tank missile in service with the British Army.
The name comes from the ability of the missile to make a rapid turn of up to ninety degrees after firing to bring it onto the line of the sighting mechanism. This means that the launcher vehicle can be concealed and the operator using a portable sight placed at a distance in a more advantageous firing position.
Specification
- Diameter: 0.17 m
- Length: 1.07 m
- Weight: 27 kg
- Warhead: not known
- Range: 4000 m
- Velocity 26 seconds to 4000 metres (approx 300 mph)
- Guidance: Wire-guided SACLOS with Thrust Vectored Control (TVC)
- Penetration: 800 mm RHA
Use
British Army
- FV102 Striker - 5 in ready-to-fire bins.
- FV 438 - Two firing bins
- Ferret Mk 5 - Two firing bins
Belgian Army
Replacement
A major review and procurement process was instituted in the late 90's to update the British Army's anti-armour weapon systems.
The roles and requirements identified were:
NLAW (New generation Light Anti-armour Weapon)
LF ATGW (Light Forces Anti-Tank Guided Weapon System)
Long range AT missile
- Current weapon - Swingfire
- Replacement - Unknown. Vehicle launched Hellfire, Starstreak and LOSAT are candidates.
See also
External links
