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NLAW
Post published:November 19, 2022NLAW is a lightweight, short-range anti-tank weapon designed to engage main battle tanks and other fighting vehicles up to a range of 600m.
The Next Generation Light Ant-Tank Weapon (NLAW) is described by Saab as;
It is currently in service with the British Army, Royal Marines and RAF Regiment.
NLAW (Next Generation Light Anti-Tank Weapon) History
The history of NLAW starts with the weapon it was intended to replace, the LAW 80.Light Anti-Armour Weapon (LAW) 80 was intended as a replacement for the Rocket 66 mm HEAT L1A1, more commonly known as the M72 LAW.
The L1A1 was seen as increasingly obsolete against modern Soviet armour, primarily as a result of its fixed diameter, unlike RPG-type weapons, the launch tube diameter constrained the warhead diameter. For HEAT warheads, one of the principal means of increasing penetration is with a warhead of greater diameter.
Hunting Engineering began the development of a replacement for the L1A1 and 84mm Carl Gustav in the late seventies, still with an encapsulated rocket, and a disposable housing, but with an integral spotting rifle to exploit the larger rockets’ increased range over the 66mm L1A1.
LAW-80 was designed with a 94mm diameter warhead and included a spotting rifle and five-round magazine that fired ammunition ballistically matched to the main round. The round was 9mm in diameter and mounted in a modified 7.62mm NATO case with a .22 Hornet blank in the base.
LAW-80 was generally referred to as LAW-94, in reference to the warhead diameter.
The effective range was reportedly 500m, although it would be relatively difficult to achieve a hit at this range against a moving target. If it did hit, though, the vehicle would likely be in trouble, the warhead could penetrate 700mm RHA.
When carried, the missile was 1m long, this was extended to 1.5m in the ready-to-fire mode. The tubes were made from kevlar-reinforced epoxy resin that used a filament winding process, and coated in polyurethane that was co-cured with the resin matrix.
LAW-80 weighed 10kg and had a rear danger area of 10-20m.
LAW-80 could also be used as a command-detonated ‘off-route mine’ with a simple kit.
LAW-80 was last produced in 1993.
A more complex set of off-route mine systems were developed called Addermine, Addermine/Arges, and Adderlaze.
Addermine used a sensor wire, with the weapon firing in response to a vehicle crushing or breaking it.
Addermine/Arges used a clip-on sensor that could determine the optimum firing point for specific vehicles.
Adderlaze used a laser rangefinder and computing system that was claimed to enable targets to be engaged at up to 2,000m.
Between 1987 and 1991, the Defence Research Establishment (DRA) conducted a survey of systems that might potentially replace LAW-80. The outline requirement was that the system was to weigh no more than 10kg, be able to penetrate the frontal armour of all known main battle tanks and be operable from inside buildings.
Operational analysis recognised that infantry would be unlikely to reload if they missed (this is what prompted the inclusion of the LAW-80 spotting rifle in comparison with the M-72 LAW and Carl Gustav) and so some form or guidance was envisaged.
DRA looked at two requirements, and a number of systems including the Aerospatial Eryx and Loral Aeronautics Predator. In parallel, DRA conducted a study with the UK industry under the Future Man Portable Missile System (FMPMS) programme. Two representative concepts emerged from these studies for a New Light Ant-Armour Weapon (NLAW)
NLAW-1 was a simple, short-range (<200m) unguided rocket that used an enclosed counter-mass system with a dual tandem warhead and Thorn EMI lase stand-off fuze.
NLAW-4 was a larger weapon, with a maximum range of 600m and an automatic command to line of sight (ACLOS) guidance system. NLAW-4 used a top attack warhead with a pre-cursor charge that was able to counter the increasingly common explosive reactive armour being fielded on Russian tanks. It also had a very fast-acting Royal Ordnance rocket motor to provide a maximum flight time of 4 seconds.
The proof of concept NLAW-4 ACLOS system was developed by British Aerospace and the DRA. DRA also funded the development of a GEC Marconi Avionics lightweight thermal sight.
These initial concept studies eventually gave way to a single requirement, Staff Requirement (Land) 7098, Next Generation Light Anti-Armour Weapon (NLAW).
An invitation to tender was issued by the MoD in September 1999.
The requirement was defined as;
Two initial Project Definition studies were awarded to Matra BAe Dynamics and Celsius (Sweden) and in January 2001, two bids were received for the Demonstration, Manufacture and Support phases.
Matra Bae Dynamics entered the Kestrel.
Kestrel was an enhanced version of the Lockheed Martin FGM-172 Predator Short Range Anti-Tank Missile that was intended to enter service with the US Marine Corps.
The main difference between the Kestral variant of Predator was it featured a direct attack mode to defeat bunkers and lighter vehicles.
And Celsius, the MBT-LAW
Saab Bofors Dynamics Ltd (SBD) eventually absorbed the bid.
An October 2001 Written Answerdescribed the state of the competition
The Matra BAE Dynamics bid was eventually absorbed by MBDA, with test firings of both conducted throughout the year.
An MoU was signed with Sweden in June 2002, the same time Saab Bofors Dynamics (Celsius) was announced as the winner.
Assessment Phase costs were £18 million and the Demonstration and Manufacture contract was £419 million.
Team MBT-LAW consisted of;
- Thales Air Defence; assembly
- BAE Systems Avionics; inertial measurement unit
- NP Aerospace; plastic and composite mouldings
- FR-HiTemp; control fins and actuators
- Raytheon Systems; electronics assemblies
- Skeldings; special purpose springs
- Thales Missile Electronics; proximity fuze
- Others included MetalWeb, BAE Systems RO Defence, EPS Logistics Technology, Express Engineering, Portsmouth Aviation, ICI Nobel Enterprises, Leafield Engineering.
In 2004, the MoD purchased2,500 AT-4 systems to bridge the gap, these being designated L2A1 Interim Light Anti-Armour Weapon (I-LAW)
Thales in Belfast assembled the missiles and deliveries began in 2009, the same year it came into service.
The contracted quantity of missiles was, oddly, 14,002.
In 2015, Saab released details of a software change that could easily extend the effective range;
In addition to the UK, NLAW is also in service with Finland, Sweden and Luxembourg.
In response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine in early 2022, the UK provided training and a substantial quantity of NLAW to Ukraine, where they proved to be extremely effective, arguably of strategic importance during the early months.
NLAW entered popular culture, with reports of Ukrainian operators saying ‘God Save the Queen’ after each shot, and of course, Saint NLAW.
As of July 2022, the quantities and types included
The MoD reportedly placed additional contracts with Thales for NLAW stock replenishment in November 2022.
NLAW Container
Manufactured by EPS Logistics in South East England
The NLAW container comprises a moulded plastic outer that can be clipped together for ease of handling and palletisation.
The end cap is unscrewed, revealing a pull tab on a polystyrene inner, which is pulled out and disassembled, revealing the NLAW
This arrangement contributes to a 20 year shef life for NLAW.
There is even a handy video online…
Enterprising Ukrainians have utilised these containers for everything from a field shower to a mobile chicken coopand even a set of Bluetooth speakers.
Launch Assemly
Out of the box, NLAW is a single ready to use unit.
NLAW is a maintenance-free and disposable system, although the Trijicon Compact ACOG 2.5×20 sight can be detached and reused if required.
The guidance system uses Predicted Line of Sight (PLOS), technically, it is not a missile as it is not guided to the target. The firer activates the system and tracks the target for 2 to 3 seconds before firing, the guidance system then calculates the predicted flight path to ensure a hit, it is a fire-and-forget device.
The firer can select overfly top attack (OTA), for use against main battle tanks and armoured vehicles, or direct attack (DA) against soft-skinned vehicles and other targets. In OTA mode, the guidance algorithm optimises the approach for an elevated flight path with a proximity fuze and in direct attack mode, the sensor system that maintains height is simply disconnected and the missile is impact fuzed.
NLAW has a soft launch system that allows it to be fired from cover, inside buildings etc.
It can also be fired without guidance prediction if the situation requires it.
Rocket
The rocket is completely IM compliant, and has an effective range of between 20m and 600m.
The 120g launch motor boosts the rocket clear of the firing point and falls away soon after launch. The sustain motor initiates a safe distance from the firing point, containing 750g of propellant.
The NLAW warhead contains 850g of IM compliant PBX explosive and is 102mm in diameter, angled down at 90 degrees.
Change Status
| Change Date | Change Record |
| 21/05/2016 | initial issue |
| 29/07/2021 | Update and format refresh |
| 20/11/2022 | Updated with Ukraine details |
NLAW - Think Defence
NLAW is a lightweight, short-range anti-tank weapon designed to engage main battle tanks and other fighting vehicles up to a range of 600m.
www.thinkdefence.co.uk
