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 |