The BGM-71 TOW (Tube-launched, Optically-tracked, Wire-guided) is a widely-used and combat-proven American-made anti-tank missile that has been in service with the Pakistan Army for a considerable time. The TOW system is a man-portable, crew-served weapon that can also be mounted on vehicles and helicopters. Its name clearly describes its operation: the missile is launched from a tube, the gunner optically tracks the target, and guidance commands are transmitted to the missile via a pair of fine wires that unspool from the missile in flight. This system is known for its reliability and effectiveness. The TOW missile has a range of 3.75 kilometers and is effective against a variety of armored targets. The Pakistan Army uses various models of the TOW, including later variants like the TOW-2A, which features a tandem warhead designed to defeat modern Explosive Reactive Armor (ERA), and the TOW-2B, which uses a unique top-attack flight profile to strike the top of a tank’s turret, where the armor is typically the thinnest. The TOW remains a critical component of the Pakistan Army’s anti-armor capability, providing a versatile and time-tested weapon for both offensive and defensive operations.
- Type: Anti-Tank Guided Missile (ATGM)
- Guidance: Semi-Automatic Command to Line of Sight (SACLOS) wire-guided
- Range: 3.75 km
- Warhead: Various, including tandem HEAT and top-attack variants
- Key Feature: Wire-guided, can be launched from a tripod, vehicle, or helicopter
