NLAW

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	Weapon: NLAW Type: Anti-Tank Weapon Country of Origin: Sweden Year Adopted: 2009 Caliber: 150mm warhead Action: Shoulder-Fired Missile Overall Length (mm): 1020.0 Overall Length (in): 40.16 Weight (kg): 12.00 Weight (pounds): 26.46 Effective Range (m): 800 m Effective Range (yards): 874.89

The Next generation Light Anti-tank Weapon (NLAW), also known as the MBT-LAW, is a man-portable, shoulder-fired anti-tank guided missile system jointly developed by Sweden's Saab Bofors Dynamics and the United Kingdom's Defence Science and Technology Laboratory. Designed to provide infantry with a simple and effective means to destroy modern main battle tanks, the NLAW combines the ease of use of a disposable launcher with advanced targeting features. It uses a "Predicted Line of Sight" guidance system, allowing the operator to track a moving target for a few seconds before firing, with the missile then calculating the trajectory to intercept. The NLAW is designed for top-attack mode, striking the tank's weakest point-the turret roof-or can be fired in direct attack mode against fortifications and lighter vehicles.

Production of the NLAW began in the mid-2000s, with both the UK and Swedish armed forces as the primary users. The system was adopted into service around 2009, and thousands of units have since been produced. The missile system is manufactured in Sweden, while the guidance and targeting systems are assembled in the UK. It has been exported to several NATO and allied countries, and its ease of operation, minimal training requirement, and high lethality have made it a preferred choice for light infantry units. Production ramped up significantly following the system's proven effectiveness in real-world conflict zones.

The NLAW gained international notoriety and widespread recognition during the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, where it was used extensively and successfully by Ukrainian forces against Russian armored vehicles. Its performance under combat conditions demonstrated the potency of modern man-portable anti-tank systems, especially in urban and close-quarter environments. The NLAW became emblematic of asymmetric warfare, where infantry equipped with relatively inexpensive weapons could pose serious threats to advanced armored formations, and it continues to influence modern doctrine in infantry anti-armor capabilities.