Missile Milan
Summary
| Category | Anti-Tank Missile |
| Sub-type | Anti-tank wire-guided missile |
| Origin country | 🇩🇪 Germany 🇫🇷 France |
| Manufacturer | Euromissile |
Technical specifications
| Milan | |
|---|---|
| Warhead | High Explosive Anti Tank |
| Warhead Weight | 2.9 kg |
| Diameter | 90 mm (3.5 in) |
| Span | 265 mm (10.4 in) |
| Length | 769 mm (30.3 in) |
| Penetration | 650 mm of steel |
| Weight | 45083 kg (99391 lb) |
Description
The MILAN (Missile d'Infanterie Léger Antichar) is a European anti-tank guided missile system that was first developed in the early 1970s. A collaborative effort between France and Germany, the MILAN has seen widespread adoption and has been manufactured under license by various countries, including Italy, the United Kingdom, and others.
One of the key features of the MILAN is its wire-guided system, which means that the operator has to manually steer the missile to its target using a joystick and sighting unit. This requires skill and exposes the operator to enemy fire for the duration of the missile's flight. However, wire guidance is less susceptible to electronic jamming compared to some other guidance methods.
The MILAN has been produced in various versions with incremental improvements in range, accuracy, and penetration capabilities. Early versions of the missile were equipped with single warheads, but later variants adopted tandem warheads to defeat reactive armor on modern tanks.
The MILAN's effective range varies depending on the version, but it generally extends from approximately 400 meters to about 3 kilometers. It can be launched from a variety of platforms, including infantry tripods, armored vehicles, and helicopters, although it is most commonly associated with its man-portable configuration.
Despite its widespread use, the MILAN system is somewhat dated compared to newer ATGM systems, lacking features like fire-and-forget capability or top-attack profiles. It has been gradually phased out or supplemented by more advanced systems in the inventories of many modern armies.