MILAN Anti-Tank Light Infantry Missile

MILAN Anti-Tank Light Infantry Missile 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 thermal sight, to give it night-firing ability.

MILAN is a French and German missile that has been license-built by Italy, Spain, Britain and India. As it is guided by wire by an operator, this missile can avoid most countermeasures (flares and chaffs). The drawbacks are its short range, the exposure of the operator, and that it requires a skilled and well-trained operator.

Milan ATGM Variants

• MILAN: Single, Main Shaped Charge Warhead (1972)
• MILAN 2: Single, Main Shaped Charge Warhead, with standoff probe to increase penetration (1984) - see above photo to right
• MILAN 2T: Single main Shaped Charge, with smaller shape charge warhead at end of standoff probe to defeat reactive armor (1993)
• MILAN 3: Tandem, Shaped Charge Warheads (1996)
• MILAN ER: Extended Range

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 armor, 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 armor behind.

MILAN
Type	Anti-tank missile
Place of origin	France / West Germany
Service history
In service	1972–present
Production history
Designed	1970s
Manufacturer	MBDA
Produced	1972
Number built	350,000 missiles, 10,000 launchers
Specifications
Weight	7.1 kg
Length	1.2 m
Diameter	0.125 m
Warhead	tandem HEAT
Detonation mechanism	contact
Engine	solid-fuel rocket
Wingspan	0.26 m
Operational range	400–2000 m
Flight ceiling	-
Speed	200 m/s
Guidance system	SACLOS wire
Steering system	Thrust Vector
Launch platform	Individual, Vehicle