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| MILAN | |
|---|---|
 MILAN missile launcher with tripod. | |
| Type | Anti-tank missile |
| Place of origin | France,West Germany |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1972–present |
| Used by | Seeoperators |
| Wars |
|
| Production history | |
| Designed | 1970s |
| Manufacturer | MBDA Also produced under license by: Bharat Dynamics (India) BAe Dynamics (United Kingdom) |
| Unit cost | £7,500 (1984)[5] |
| Produced | 1971 |
| No. built | 350,000 missiles, 10,000 launchers |
| Variants | Seevariants |
| Specifications (MILAN 3) | |
| Mass | 16.4 kg[6] |
| Length | 1.2 m (3 ft 11 in) |
| Diameter | 0.115 m (4.5 in) |
| Wingspan | 0.26 m (10 in) |
| Warhead | Single ortandemHEAT |
Detonation mechanism | contact |
| Engine | solid-fuel rocket |
Operational range | 200–2,000 m (660–6,560 ft); 3,000 m (MILAN ER) |
| Maximum speed | 200 m/s (660 ft/s) |
Guidance system | SACLOS wire |
Steering system | Jet deflector |
Launch platform | Individual, vehicle |
MILAN (French forMissile d'Infanterie Léger Antichar, "Lightweight Infantry Anti-tank Missile"; German forkiteraptor orMilvus) is a Franco-West Germananti-tank guided missile system. Design of the MILAN began in 1962; it was ready for trials in 1971, and accepted for service in 1972. It is awire-guidedsemi-automatic command to line of sight (SACLOS) missile, which means the sight of the launch unit must be aimed at a target to guide the missile. The MILAN can be equipped with a MIRA or MILIS thermal sight to give it night-firing ability.
"Milan" is also a common name in French and German to designate akite bird, thus falling in line with theFederal Defence naming convention to often use animal names as designators for high-value weapon systems.
MILAN is a product ofEuromissile, a Franco-West German missile development program dating back to the 1960s. The system entered service in 1972 as a second generation anti-tank weapon and soon became a standard anti-tank weapon throughoutNATO, in use by most of the alliance's individual armies.[7]
Consisting of two main components, the launcher and the missile, the MILAN system uses asemi-automatic command to line of sight (SACLOS) command guidance system. It tracks the missile either by a tail-mountedinfrared lamp or an electronic-flash lamp, depending on the model. Because it is guided by wire by an operator, the missile cannot be affected byradio jamming orflares. However, drawbacks include short range, exposure of the operator, and problems with overland powerlines.
The MILAN 2 variant, which entered service with the French, German and British armies in 1984, uses an improved 115 mmhigh-explosive anti-tank (HEAT)shaped charge warhead. The MILAN 3 entered service with the French army in 1995 and features a new-generation localizer that makes the system more difficult to jam electronically.[8]
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The later MILAN models havetandem-charge HEAT warheads. This was done to keep pace with developments in Soviet armour technology: their tanks began to appear withexplosive reactive armour (ERA), which could defeat earlieranti-tank guided missiles (ATGMs). The smaller precursor HEAT warhead penetrates and detonates the ERA tiles, exposing the way for the main HEAT warhead to penetrate the armour behind. Early missile versions used a simple flare to show the launch post their position left–right and above–below the crosshair, which then led to steering commands (SACLOS guidance). This was exploited with IR jammers such as Soviet Shtora that created a strong signal that was always on target, and thus led to wrong steering commands.[citation needed] The later electronic IR beacon used a coded signal sequence (switching between emitting and not emitting) that enabled the launch post to discern the missile's beacon from the jammer.
MILAN missile systems were among the numerous weapons sent to theMujahideen in Afghanistan in the 1980s by the United States to combat Soviet troops.[9] The MILAN had a devastating effect on Soviet armor, having a similar effect on tanks and armored personnel carriers asStinger missiles had on Soviet helicopters.[10] In 2010, French troops killed four Afghan civilians inKapisa Province using a MILAN system during a firefight.[11]
MILAN missiles provided by the French government saw common usage during thewar between Chad and Libya where they were used by Chadian forces. Often mounted on Toyota pickup trucks, the missiles successfully engaged Libyan armour in theAouzou Strip includingT-55 tanks.[12]
In 1982, the rulingmilitary junta in Argentina launched the invasion of theUK overseas territory of theFalkland Islands, leading to theFalklands War. British forces used MILAN, along with theM72 LAW andCarl Gustaf, in a 'bunker buster' role. The MILAN saw use in the battles forGoose Green,Mount Longdon,Two Sisters andWireless Ridge.[13]
MILAN was used by both coalition and Iraqi forces during thePersian Gulf War, with a MILAN launcher operated by French forces claiming to have destroyed sevenT-55 tanks.[14] Iraqi operated MILAN missiles were supplied by the French government during the 1980s and were used by Iraqi forces during both Gulf Wars.
In 2015, Germany supplied thePeshmerga with 30 MILAN launchers and over 500 missiles.[15][16]
Syria ordered about 200 launchers and 4,000 missiles in 1977 which were delivered in 1978-1979 and used by the Syrians during theLebanese Civil War. The Syrian army used Milan missiles against Israeli tanks in Lebanon in 1982.[17] The missiles were in service during theSyrian Civil War, fielded by theRepublican Guard.[18]Syrian rebels captured some in depots, as didISIL. The KurdishYPG also used Milans supplied by theinternational coalition.[17]
The first Milan version was delivered to the Special Forces and the antitank platoons in the late 1970s and 1980s at a scale of six launchers per platoon. Each platoon was organised into three antitank sections, with two ATGM launchers and two M40A1 106 mm recoilless guns or two rocket launchers.
Six SADF MILAN teams were deployed by the Special Forces in support of the Angolan UNITA guerrillas, in the Cazombo Salient in 1985 duringOperation Wallpaper.
France has sent MILAN missiles to Ukraine during the2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.[19]
Afghanistan –Afghan National Army:[20] 271
Algeria –Algerian People's National Army:[20] 340
Bahrain -Royal Bahraini Army: mounted on 5AIFV-B-Milan vehicles:[20] 343
Bosnia and Herzegovina -Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina:[20] 90
Botswana -Botswana Defence Force[21]
Burundi -Burundi Army (reported):[20] 465
Cameroon -Cameroon Army:[20] 466
Chad –Chadian Ground Forces:[20] 469 mounted on light vehicles[22][23]
Cyprus –Cypriot National Guard:[20] 95
Egypt –Egyptian Army:[20] 345
France –French Army: Infantry and vehicle-mounted weapon.:[20] 105 Will be replaced byMissile Moyenne Portée (MMP) from 2017.[24]
Gabon -Gabon Army:[20] 478
Germany –Bundeswehr:[20] 109
Greece –Hellenic Army:[20] 112
India –Indian Army:[20] 34,100 MILAN-2T bought. License produced byBharat Dynamics in India.[25]
Indonesia -Indonesian Army:[20] 276
Iraq –Iraqi Army
Kurdistan –Peshmerga: 30 launchers and 500 missiles, delivery in two portions was announced on 31 August 2014 by German Bundeswehr. These are 1980s Milan 2 replaced by later models but still in storage.[26][27] Used by the Kurds to stopISILvehicle-borne improvised explosive devices (VBIEDs).[28]
Italy –Italian Army Total of 714 launchers with 17,163 missile delivered in 1990. 807 MILAN 2T ordered in 2004 and delivered in 2005 (SIPRI).[29]
Jordan - mounted on 45AIFV-B-Milan vehicles:[20] 358
Kenya –Kenyan Army:[20] 483
Lebanon –Lebanese Army:[20] 362
Libya –Libyan National Army: 1,000 MILAN-3 exported between 2008 and 2011,[30] 400 systems in 2011.
North Macedonia –Army of the Republic of Macedonia:[20] 126
Mauritania –Mauritanian Army:[20] 365
Mexico –Mexican Army: mounted on 8PanhardVBL scout cars:[20] 427
Morocco –Royal Moroccan Army:[20] 367
Oman -Royal Army of Oman and Royal Household:[20] 370
Portugal –Portuguese Army;Portuguese Marines:[20] 137
PKK:[31]
Saudi Arabia -Saudi Arabian Army:[20] 373
Senegal -Senegalese Army:[20] 496
Singapore -Singapore Army:[20] 307
South Africa –South African Army: 375 missiles.[32][33][34][35][36]
Syria –Syrian Army:[20] 377
Free Syrian Army: Some captured.[37]
YPG[17]
Islamic State[17]
Tunisia –Tunisian Armed Forces: 120 missiles.[32]
Turkey –Turkish Army:[20] 154
Ukraine: some donated by France to support the Ukrainian army in war against Russia.[38]
United Arab Emirates:[20] 381
Uruguay –Uruguayan Army:[20] 438
Yemen –Yemeni Armed forces
Australia –Australian Army: Was used by infantry and mounted on vehicles. The Australian Army withdrew the MILAN from service in the early 1990s. The ADF now fields theFGM-148 Javelin system.
Belgium –Belgian Army: Infantry weapon; replaced bySpike-LR in 2014[39]
Brazil –Brazilian Army[40]
Estonia –Estonian Defence Forces[41]
Ireland –Irish Army: Infantry weapon; replaced by theFGM-148 Javelin.
Qatar[42]
Somalia - imported in 1978-1979[43]
Spain –Spanish Army[44]
UNITA: 150 missiles.[32]
United Kingdom –British Army;Royal Marines – While primarily an infantry weapon, it was also used in theFV120 Spartan MCT turret. Over 50,000 missiles were purchased for use in the British Armed Forces. The MILAN was deployed against Argentine bunkers in theFalklands conflict[45] and later againstT-55s during thePersian Gulf War.[46] It was replaced by theFGM-148 Javelin in mid-2005. Previously made under licence byBritish Aerospace Dynamics.[47]{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)75 MILAN launchers ordered in 1973 and delivered in 1974
In December 1973, it was reported that [Pretoria] signed a contract.. for the supply of 50 Matra 550 air-to-air missiles ..[and] a contract over the supply of 1500 Milan missiles. Source: French Defence Ministry; Historical Archives, Paris, Box No. 14 S 295, Monthly report of the French Military Attaché in South Africa, Imports from France, November 1973. Report of the French Military Attaché in South Africa, November 1973.
The launchers were received in 1974, but were placed in storage in 1996. SA employed the MILAN in combat in southern Angola in the 1980s. Under Project Kingfisher, 30 launchers were upgraded to Milan ADT-ER status and 300 missiles were acquired for R167.4 million.
The SANDF has ordered an undisclosed further number of Milan missiles..The R57 990 630.80 purchase order was awarded to Euromissile [sic] last week. It takes the known value of Project Kingfisher – according to the Armscor Bulletin System (ABS) – to R271 076 483.37...The Kingfisher contract was placed on December 20, 2006, and initially escaped media notice. In March 2009 the military ordered a further 13 Milan ADT firing posts and four simulators under a contract worth €10.7 million (about R129.3 million at then exchange rates, but R81.5 million on the ABS.
