Malaysia issues tender for anti-tank guided missiles

The new ATGMs will replace Metis-M ATGM systems mounted on the Malaysian Army's Mercedes G-Wagen 4×4 weapon carriers. The picture above is an example of a Mercedes G-Wagen weapon carrier. (Janes/Patrick Allen )

The Malaysian Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) has requested bids for the supply of 18 medium-range anti-tank guided missile (ATGM) systems.

In the bid document, MINDEF said there is a requirement for the anti-tank platoon of the infantry battalion to be equipped with medium-range ATGMs, which can engage and destroy enemy armour at a distance between 2,000 and 4,000 m.

According to MINDEF, an ATGM system includes a launching tube/canister, a missile, an observation and launching unit (OLU), a tripod, and a missile container.

The launching tube must receive and react to the task command from the OLU to ignite the ejection motor and eject the missile, MINDEF said. “The missile should not exceed a length of 1,200 mm and a diameter of 130 mm.”

The missile must be equipped with the capability to defeat explosive reactive armour (ERA) and the main armour plate of at least 900 mm rolled homogeneous armour (RHA), MINDEF added. In addition, MINDEF said the missile must produce sufficient residual energy for the behind armour effect (BAE) to inflict casualty to crew and vehicles.

According to the bid document, the ATGM's probability of a hit should not be less than 90% and should have a top and direct attack mode. “The missile's arming distance must be at least 80 m and should be equipped with an imaging infrared (IIR) homing guidance with a cooled or uncooled system to provide better imagery. In addition, it must equip an automatic command line-of-sight (ACLOS) fire-and-forget guidance system,” the bid document said.