CLOSE COMBAT MISSILE SYSTEMS

G-17. CCMS are used primarily to defeat main battle tanks and other armored combat vehicles. In the current force, this category of weapons includes the TOW and Javelin. The TOW and Javelin provide overmatch antitank fires during the assault and provide extended range capability for engaging armor during both offensive and defensive missions. These systems have a moderate capability against bunkers, buildings, and other fortified targets commonly found during combat in urban areas. The TOW’s Bunker Buster (BB) round is capable of destroying the majority of urban targets.

JAVELIN

G-18. The Javelin is a fire-and-forget, shoulder-fired, man-portable CCMS consisting of a reusable M98A1 (Block 0) and the improved M98A2 (Block 1), CLU and a round. (See figure G-8.) The CLU houses the daysight, night vision sight (NVS), controls, and indicators. The round consists of the missile, the launch tube assembly (LTA), and battery coolant unit (BCU). The LTA serves as the launch platform and carrying container of the missile. (Refer to TC 3-22.37 for more information.)

G-19. The Javelin CCMS’ primary role is to destroy enemy armored vehicles out to 2000 meters with the M98A1 and 2500 meters with the M98A2. The Javelin can be employed in a secondary role of providing FS against point targets such as bunkers and crew-served weapons positions. In addition, the Javelin CLU can be used alone as an aided vision device for reconnaissance, security operations, and surveillance. When BFV are part of a combined-arms team, the Javelin becomes a secondary antiarmor weapons system. It supports the fires of tanks and TOWs, covers secondary armor avenues of approach, and provides observation posts with an antiarmor capability. The Javelin gunner should be able to engage up to three targets in two minutes, making him effective against armor threat.

Figure G-8. Javelin close combat missile system

Command Launch Unit

G-20. The M98A1 and M98A2 CLU is the reusable portion of the Javelin system. It contains the controls and indicators. The CLU provides increased utility to the Infantry platoon and weapons squad by allowing accurate surveillance out to 2.5 plus kilometers in both day and night. CLUs have been used to spot and destroy enemy snipers in hidden positions more than 1000 meters away.

G-21. Tables G-2 through G-4 list the Javelin's capabilities and features, the physical characteristics of the CLU, and physical characteristics of the round.

Table G-2. Javelin capabilities and features

Table G-3. Physical characteristics of the command launch unit

Table G-4. Physical characteristics of the round

Missile

G-22. The Javelin missile consists of the guidance section; the midbody section, the warhead, the propulsion section, and control actuator section. A discussion of the guidance section and warhead follows.

Guidance Section

G-23. The guidance section provides target tracking and flight control signals. It is the forward section of the missile and includes the seeker head section and guidance electronics unit.

Warhead Section

G-24. The Javelin missile uses a dual-charged warhead (see figure G-9) containing a precursor charge and main charge─

• Precursor charge. The precursor charge is an HE AT shaped charge. Its purpose is to cause reactive armor on the target to detonate before the main charge reaches the armor. Once the reactive armor is penetrated, the target’s main hull is exposed to the warhead’s main charge. If the target is not equipped with reactive armor, the precursor provides additional explosives to penetrate the main armor.
• Main charge. The main charge is the second charge of a dual-charge warhead and is also an HE-shaped charge. The primary warhead charge is designed to penetrate the target’s main armor to achieve a target kill.

Figure G-9. Javelin missile warhead

Capabilities and Limitations

G-25. The Javelin has some unique capabilities providing the unit with an antiarmor weapon system. However, the Infantry leader also should understand system's limitations in order to employ this system. (See table G-5.)

Table G-5. Javelin capabilities and limitations

TUBE-LAUNCHED, OPTICALLY-TRACKED, WIRE-GUIDED MISSILE WEAPON SYSTEM

G-26. The Infantry TOW weapon system consists of the Improved Target Acquisition System (ITAS) launcher, which has tracking, control capabilities, and missile, which is encased in a launch container. The launcher is equipped with self-contained, replaceable units.

G-27. The TOW is designed to destroy enemy tanks, fortifications, and other materiel targets. Its LOS launcher initiates, tracks, and controls the missile’s flight through command-link wire-transmitted guidance signals. It can be employed in all weather conditions as long as the gunner can see the target through the ITAS. The TOW also provides a long-range assault capability against heavily fortified bunkers, pillboxes, and gun emplacements.

G-28. The current versions of the TOW missile can destroy targets at a minimum range of 65 meters and a maximum range of 3750 meters. The TOW 2B missile can destroy targets at a minimum range of 200 meters and a maximum range of 3750 meters. TOW missiles in development are being produced to engage enemy targets out to 4500 meters.

Missile System Configurations and Types

G-29. The TOW CCMS consists of multiple configurations with numerous types of missiles. These configurations mainly consist of minor modified work orders transparent to the operator and are continually updated. All configurations use the same basic airframe, aerodynamic control system, command-link wire, and missile electronics designs. The current missile types are listed below─

• Improved TOW (ITOW). The ITOW missile has an improved five-inch warhead from the original TOW missile including extended probes for greater standoff and penetration. It can destroy targets at a minimum range of 65 meters and a maximum range of 3750 meters.
• TOW 2. The TOW 2 missile has a full-caliber six-inch warhead including an extended probe. In addition to the infrared radiator of the ITOW missile, TOW 2 has a second infrared radiator to provide hardened system performance against battlefield obscurants and countermeasures. The second radiator is called the thermal beacon and provides link compatibility with the electro-optical infrared nightsight, which is part of the TOW 2 launcher system.
• TOW 2A. The TOW 2A adds a small explosive charge in the tip of the extended probe causing enemy reactive armor to detonate prematurely, thus allowing the TOW 2A’s warhead to penetrate the main armor.
• TOW 2B. The TOW 2B has an entirely different warhead and kill mechanism than the previous TOW missiles. It is a top-attack missile (fly over/shoot down) defeating enemy armor at its most vulnerable point the top deck of the turret and hull. The TOW 2B has a tandem warhead firing two explosively formed projectiles down through the thin upper deck armor of the enemy vehicle. The gunner tracks the target the same as other TOW missile with the crosshairs on center mass, but the missile automatically flies 2.25 meters above LOS. When the missile senses it’s directly above the target (by means of the target’s shape and magnetic field), it automatically fires its warhead. The TOW 2B missile can destroy targets at a minimum range of 288 meters when fired from the ground mount and 200 meters when fired from the HMMWV or BFV. The TOW 2B has a maximum range of 3750 meters whether ground- or vehicle-mounted.
• TOW 2B GEN 1. The TOW 2B GEN 1 is similar to the TOW 2B but includes the addition of the GEN 1 Counter Active Protection System (CAPS), which is used to defeat enemy active protection systems.
• TOW 2B Aero. The TOW 2B Aero is an extended range version of the TOW 2B missile with an aerodynamic nose and has an effective range of 4,500 meters. (See figure G-10.) This longer range (compared to the 3750 meter range of the previous TOW missiles) allows a TOW crew to fire well beyond the weapons range of its targeted vehicle.
• TOW 2B Aero With GEN 1, 2, and 3A CAPS. These versions of TOW 2B Aero have the addition of different generations of CAPS to defeat an enemy target’s active protection system, allowing the TOW 2B missile to engage armored vehicles up to 4,500 meters. (See figure G-10.)
• TOW BB. The TOW BB replaces the TOW 2A warhead with a fragmenting bulk charge for nonarmor targets. (See figure G-11.) The TOW BB has a range of 3750 meters. Its missile is capable of defeating bunkers, breaching masonry walls, and engaging targets in support of urban operations.