Latest news with #ATGM
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Yahoo
What the Army is doing to keep its tanks alive against drones
Despite the claims of internet experts, tanks and other armor aren't obsolete, but they have a major problem. On modern battlefields, main battle tanks that were once the lords of the plains are being taken out by cheap quadcopter drones that some had written off as toys for idle hobbyists just ten years ago, despite their almost immediate weaponization by militant groups. Other threats, like loitering munitions, and a proliferation of anti-tank guided missiles (ATGM) with top-attack capability like the Next generation Light Anti-tank Weapon (NLAW), make this one of the most dangerous times for armor since the British Mark I became the first tank to see combat on Sept. 15, 1916, on the Somme. With armor facing threats like never before, the Army is requesting $108 million in the fiscal year 2026 budget for technology to enhance its survivability. Leaders are funding a modular suite of protection technologies that can be added to current and future armed vehicles to keep them relevant and survivable. The branch, with thousands of Abrams tanks and armored vehicles like the Bradley and Stryker, is building the future fleet to detect threats early, disrupt them with jammers or sensor spoofing, defeat them with interceptors or directed energy weapons, and disappear using camouflage, signature reduction, and deception. At the heart of this new approach is the Modular Active Protection System (MAPS). It is essentially an operating system for vehicle defense, designed to let the Army, or anybody else, mix and match sensors, launchers, jammers, and countermeasures across its vehicle fleet. A MAPS-compatible Bradley or Abrams could field different defensive kits depending on the mission or threat environment. One of the key components of MAPS is the hard-kill interceptor — typically short-range projectiles designed to knock out incoming rockets, ATGMS, or drones. They're most commonly called active protection systems (APS). Systems like Trophy and Iron Fist have seen real-world success on Israeli vehicles. The Iron-First Light Decoupled was chosen to protect Bradleys while the Trophy APS has been on Abrams for some time. These systems have their drawbacks, however. They can be easily overwhelmed, require reloading, and are expensive, though a bargain if they keep a vehicle and the crew alive. Top Stories This Week News The Army has a novel solution to its drone problem: Shoot them with tanks The Army has a novel solution to its drone problem: Shoot them with tanks By Matt White News A Marine general will command the Naval Academy for the first time A Marine general will command the Naval Academy for the first time By Matt White News Marine who criticized leaders for Afghanistan withdrawal to head promotions review Marine who criticized leaders for Afghanistan withdrawal to head promotions review By Jeff Schogol According to the budget documents, $92 million of the $108 million requested is going to manufacture top attack defenses, commonly called 'cope cages.' The design hasn't been finalized, so it's yet unknown how effective they will be against drone-dropped munitions, which active protection systems can struggle with due to their angle of drop and the speed of the falling munition. Systems like Iron Fist are being updated to deal with this particular top attack threat, but as we mentioned, it can be easily overwhelmed. Another big piece of how the Army plans to protect against small drones is lasers, particularly the 50-kilowatt units mounted on Directed Energy Maneuver Short Range Air Defense, or DE M-SHORAD Stryker variants. These systems have undergone multiple rounds of testing and have been deployed to Europe and the Middle East. In these tests, the lasers proved capable of downing small drones, but not without problems. Soldiers identified that the weapon's power draw, which is significant, was complicated by the need to remain mobile and move often. Things like dust, rain, fog, and other common environmental elements on a battlefield also proved to be an issue. Leaders are also aware that the harder you are to see, the harder you are to kill, so they're investing in other passive protection measures. Technologies such as signature management paint are mentioned in the budget, but other efforts like noise-reduction and modular camouflage systems are being implemented as well. Reducing the electromagnetic, thermal, and acoustic signatures emitted from a vehicle can give crews time to identify a threat before it identifies them, and allow soldiers to employ whatever countermeasure is appropriate. What still remains to be seen is how effective all this will be, and if it can keep armor from sliding into irrelevance. In our latest YouTube video, we get deeper into what all these systems do well, what they don't, and if this will just turn tanks into even more expensive targets. Solve the daily Crossword
India.com
14-07-2025
- Business
- India.com
Bad news for China, Pakistan; US to supply engines for Tejas fighter jet rapidly, Army to get Javelin and Striker, they are capable of...
New Delhi: The production of India's indigenous fighter aircraft Tejas has now picked up pace as the delivery of GE F404-IN20 engines for the Tejas Mk1A fighter jet has started rapidly from the USA. General Electric will deliver two engines every month till March 2026. India's Defense Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh has given this information to CNBC-TV18. What caused the delay? According to the report, one engine was delivered from the US in April and the second engine is expected to be received by the end of July. Let us tell you that India had signed a $ 716 million deal with General Electric to buy 99 F404-IN20 engines in 2021. Due to problems in the supply chain, the delivery of engines was not being done. According to some reports, South Korea was not able to deliver some components due to which the schedule was pushed to March 2025. Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) manufactures the Tejas fighter aircraft and had to face a lot of criticism due to the delay in the manufacturing of the aircraft. The Indian Air Force is moving towards inducting a total of 352 Tejas aircraft, which will have both Mk1A and Mk2 variants. The annual production of Tejas is expected to reach 30 units by 2026–27. What other weapons India is buying from America? Apart from this, India is also planning to buy Javelin Anti-Tank Guided Missile (ATGM) from America. Defense Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh said that the talks on this deal are in the final stages. The Javelin missile is known for its 'fire and forget' capability. It attacks enemy tanks from above, where their security is weakest. Its range is about 2.5 kilometers and it meets the needs of the modern battlefield very well. Currently, most of the ATGM systems in the Indian Army are of the second generation and according to an estimate, the army still has a shortage of more than 68,000 missiles and more than 850 launchers. India is trying to fulfill this as soon as possible. What is Striker Armored Fighting Vehicle? India has also recently tested the American Striker Armored Fighting Vehicle. However, the army did not like its variant. The Defense Secretary said, 'The Indian Army is looking for an amphibious variant of this system, which the US will demonstrate in future joint exercises with India.' The Striker is an 8×8 wheeled modular armoured vehicle known for its high speed and operation in all types of terrain. It is equipped with a 30mm automatic cannon, machine gun and anti-tank missiles, making it a very lethal combat platform. It has an NBC (Nuclear, Biological, Chemical) protection system, which keeps the soldiers safe even in dangerous situations. This vehicle is ready for network-centric warfare, that is, it is capable of real-time communication and battle management. The Amphibious variant of the Striker can run on both water and land, which makes it important even in river, swamp or coastal areas.
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Business Standard
09-05-2025
- Business Standard
India-Pak conflict: How anti-tank guided missiles are shaping ground combat
Anti-Tank Guided Missiles (ATGMs) are precision weapons built to destroy heavily armoured targets such as battle tanks. Their long-range capability allows troops to strike without exposing themselves to direct fire. Modern ATGMs can be launched from a variety of platforms: Shoulder-fired by infantry Mounted on tripods or vehicles Launched from helicopters or drones Over 130 countries currently operate ATGMs, and they've seen extensive use in conflicts like the Russia-Ukraine war. How ATGMs pierce armour: The technology behind the strike ATGMs use shaped-charge warheads that focus explosive energy in a single direction to penetrate thick armour. More advanced systems feature tandem warheads: The first charge defeats Explosive Reactive Armour (ERA) The second charge penetrates the main armour underneath Many systems also offer top-attack mode, where missiles strike the turret roof—typically the weakest part of a tank. Why modern ATGMs are so deadly in warfare Can tanks survive an ATGM hit? It depends on the defences Tanks today deploy multiple defensive technologies, including: ERA (Explosive Reactive Armour): Plates that explode to neutralise shaped charges Slat or cage armour: Metal grilles that cause premature detonation Smoke screens and evasive manoeuvres: To evade targeting Electronic jamming and decoys: To mislead incoming missiles APS (Active Protection Systems): Like Israel's Trophy or Russia's Afghanit, which track and destroy incoming missiles mid-air Though no tank is invincible, these layers drastically improve survivability. Why ATGMs are critical in India's ground warfare strategy ATGMs are cost-effective, easy to deploy, and high-impact tools for infantry. They: Enable foot soldiers to take down tanks Reduce the need for artillery or air support Are ideal for both conventional and asymmetric warfare As such, India is increasing investments not only in ATGM tech, but also in countermeasures and training for troops. Global combat use: Where ATGMs have made a battlefield impact ATGMs have played key roles in modern military conflicts, including: Ukraine: Javelins and NLAWs helped halt Russian tank advances As tanks evolve, so do missiles—keeping the tank-vs-missile arms race alive.
NDTV
09-05-2025
- Politics
- NDTV
What Is Anti-Tank Guided Missile India Used To Destroy Pak Post Across LoC
New Delhi: The Indian Army has used Anti-Tank Guided Missiles (ATGMs) to destroy several Pakistani military posts across the Line of Control (LoC), defence sources said this morning. This comes in retaliation for cross-border firing by Pakistani troops as tensions heightened between the two nations following a terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam left 26 people dead. What Is An Anti-Tank Guided Missile (ATGM)? An Anti-Tank Guided Missile (ATGM) is a weapon system designed to destroy heavily armoured vehicles, especially tanks. These missiles are "guided," meaning they can be steered or locked onto a target, making it accurate compared to older anti-tank weapons. They can be fired from the shoulder, from tripods, or from vehicles and aircraft. Their key advantage is that they allow soldiers to engage armoured threats from a safe distance. How Do They Work? Most ATGMs use something called a shaped charge. This is a special type of explosive that focuses all its power in one direction, strong enough to punch through thick tank armour. Some modern ATGMs use tandem warheads. This means they have two explosions. The first blast hits and activates the tank's outer protection, called explosive reactive armour (ERA). ERA is designed to stop missiles by exploding outward. The second blast follows right after and breaks through the tank's main armour underneath. ATGMs are built to work both during the day and at night, making them useful in all kinds of conditions. Some of them also have a 'top-attack' mode, which means they can hit the tank from above where they are most vulnerable. Many modern ATGMs have something called a dual-mode seeker, which helps them find and follow their target more accurately. Can An ATGM Be Stopped? Some tanks use reactive armour, which are special plates that explode outward when hit, to stop the missile. Others use slat armour, which is a metal cage that can mess with the missile's fuse and make it blow up early. There are also systems that can jam the missile's signals or confuse it with decoys. Advanced tanks like Israel's Merkava use a system called Trophy. It can spot incoming missiles and shoot them down before they hit. This kind of Active Protection System (APS) is light, fast, and smart. Tanks can also use smoke, dust, or fast return fire to hide or destroy the missile operator before they can launch or guide the missile. This method was more common before today's "fire-and-forget" missiles, which don't need help after being launched. Over 130 countries use ATGMs today, and they have been widely seen in conflicts like the Russia-Ukraine war. On the intervening night of Tuesday-Wednesday, India had launched aerial strikes on terror camps deep inside Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK) under Operation Sindoor and then successfully thwarted Islamabad's missile and drone attacks. Officials said at least 50 drones aimed at military installations in Jammu, Pathankot, and Udhampur were swiftly neutralised.
Cedar News
07-05-2025
- Cedar News
Video reportedly showing Pakistani army ATGM crews striking Indian army positions on the front line
Video reportedly showing Pakistani army ATGM crews striking Indian army positions on the front line. The Video:
