NLAW - The Ultimate Tank Killer
Among the trends in modern warfare, one stands out – soldiers on the ground remain indispensable for holding and defending a country. Even with the increased reliance on drone-led missions, the majority of troops from military branches, including infantry, special forces and marines, continue to travel on foot while trying to gain tactical positions. At the same time, Main Battle Tanks (MBTs) have become a dominant force in modern conflicts. Equipped with more sophisticated weapons and countermeasures, tanks act as a force multiplier capable of eliminating enemies by destroying entire buildings.
Against modern main battle tanks, a disposable and user-friendly weapon system such as Saab's Next-Generation Light Anti-Tank Weapon (NLAW) can significantly ease the burden on infantry troops. At just 12.5 kg, this unjammable, man-portable system can be easily carried around by soldiers. NLAW's 500 mm armour-piercing warhead can eliminate heavily protected main battle tanks with a single shot.
One of NLAW's key advantages is its 20–800 meter combat range, which makes it the most versatile anti-tank weapon ideal for both short-range and medium-range combat against armoured targets. Not just that, NLAW can also take down a partially concealed tank – the operator simply needs to aim at any exposed part, such as an antenna, and fire. The missile then flies one meter above the line of sight and strikes the tank from above.
NLAW leaves tanks nowhere to hide
NLAW works even when there are obstacles including other vehicles, heat sources and power lines in the way. The system uses predicted line-of-sight targeting, where magnetic and optical sensors guide the missile to the target location. All the operator needs to do is target for a few seconds before firing, and NLAW does the rest.
Imagine a scenario where the operator needs to target a main battle tank 200 meters away. However, there is a burning vehicle at 50 meters right between the operator and the target. In this case, the operator simply needs to adjust the arm distance to 200 meters. The missile will initially fly blind over the first target and then begin searching for the intended target.
Meanwhile, NLAW's Direct Attack (DA) mode is designed to take out enemy assets like trucks, buses and helicopters. The DA mode is suitable for urban warfare, where troops may need to operate from inside buildings. When fired directly through a window into a building, the resulting fragments are capable of causing significant damage.
What makes NLAW the perfect weapon for modern forces is its single-use design. Any soldier can be trained to operate the weapon in just an hour. Unlike other reusable medium-range anti-tank weapons in a similar category, NLAW is much simpler to use. With other systems, you typically require two or three men, assembled close to the firing position, creating a time-consuming and complicated firing process.
With NLAW, the response time is quicker. A single operator can carry it and fire it. The soldier just needs to open the packaging, take out the weapon, and it's ready to use. In just five to six seconds, a soldier can shift NLAW from hand to shoulder, get out the sights, select firing support, target, and fire. Once used, the soldier can get rid of the weapon and move from his or her firing position before the enemy can return fire.