Swingfire
Sign in to saveSwingfire was a British wire-guided anti-tank missile developed in the 1960s and produced from 1966 until 1993. The name refers to its ability to make a rapid turn of up to ninety degrees after firing to bring it onto the line of the sighting mechanism. This means that the launcher vehicle could be concealed and the operator, using a portable sight, placed at a distance in a more advantageous firing position.
Key facts
- Weapon.is_missile
- yes
- Weapon.is_UK
- yes
- Weapon.image
- File:Swingfire launch from Striker.jpg
- Weapon.image_size
- 300
- Weapon.caption
- Swingfire launching from a Striker
- Weapon.name
- Swingfire
- Weapon.type
- Anti-tank missile
- Weapon.origin
- United Kingdom
- Weapon.launch_platform
- Vehicle
- Weapon.unit_cost
- £7,600 (1984)
- Weapon.production_date
- 1966-1993
- Weapon.used_by
- See text
- Weapon.vehicle_range
- 150 - 4,000 m
- Weapon.ceiling
- n/a
- Weapon.filling
- 7 kg HEAT
- Weapon.engine
- Solid rocket motor
- Weapon.steering
- Thrust Vector Control
- Weapon.guidance
- Wire, MCLOS/SACLOS
via Wikipedia infobox
Article
22 sectionsContents
- Development
- Earlier efforts
- Swingfire and TOW
- Prototype problems
- Hawkswing
- Service
- FV438 Swingfire
- FV102 Striker
- Upgrades
- Combat history
- Replacement in British Army
- Specification
- Operators
- Current operators
- Former operators
- Decommissioning problems
- See also
- Notes
- References
- Citations
- Bibliography
- External links
Swingfire was a British wire-guided anti-tank missile developed in the 1960s and produced from 1966 until 1993. The name refers to its ability to make a rapid turn of up to ninety degrees after firing to bring it onto the line of the sighting mechanism. This means that the launcher vehicle could be concealed and the operator, using a portable sight, placed at a distance in a more advantageous firing position.
Swingfire entered operational service in 1969 and underwent several major upgrades during its time in service. It was used on a number of vehicles including the FV438, FV102 and several truck mountings including the Land Rover and Ferret armoured car. Concepts adapting it to helicopters, tanks and even hovercraft went nowhere. Swingfire remained in service on the FV102 Striker until 2005 when they were retired in favour of man-portable missiles.