ANTI-TANK MISSILES (ATGW)

AT-4

 

AT-4 Anti-tank weapon

The AT-4 is a portable one-shot anti-tank weapon built in Sweden by Saab Bofors Dynamics (previously Bofors Anti Armour Systems).

 

In the US and NATO inventory it replaces the M72 LAW (Light Anti-armour Weapon).

 

Saab has had considerable sales success with the AT4, making it one of the most common light anti-tank weapons in the world.

 


It is intended to give infantry units a means to destroy or disable armoured vehicles and fortifications they may encounter (though it is not generally sufficient to defeat a modern main battle tank). The launcher and projectile are manufactured pre-packed and issued as a single unit of ammunition (rather than a weapon system), with the launcher discarded after use.

The AT4 is a development of the 60 mm Pskott m/68 (Miniman), adopted by the Swedish army in 1960s. Like the m/68, the AT4 was designed by Förenade fabriksverken (FFV) and manufactured at their facility at Zakrisdal, Karlstad, Sweden.

Even before the AT4 had been adopted by Sweden it participated in a competition for a new anti-tank weapon for the US Army. Runners up were the AT4 and the German Armbrust. Though impressed with the AT4, the US Army saw room for improvement, specifically the sights and slings, which were redesigned.

 

Thereafter, the AT4 was adopted by the US Army as the M136 antitank grenade launcher (LAW). The Swedish army recognised these improvements and subsequently adopted the Americanized version of the AT4 as the Pansarskott m/86 (Pskott m/86).
 

AT-4 Specifications
Type Portable anti-tank weapon
Manufacturer SAAB Bofors
Weight 6.7kg
Length 1m
Diameter 84m
Performance Max effective range 300m, shaped warhead can penetrate 500mm armour