9K115-1 Metis-M vs BGM-71 TOW: Specs Compared

FORCETALLY

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AAnti-tank weapons

9K115-1 Metis-M

Anti-tank guided missile

BAnti-tank weapons

BGM-71 TOW

Anti-tank missile

First system

Second system

At a glance

Side by side

Length comparisonOne shared metre scale

9K115-1 Metis-MLength

0.98 m

Length source ↗

BGM-71 TOWwith probe extended (some variants have no probe)

1.41–1.51 m

Length source ↗

Lengths retain their source configuration and measurement scope.

9K115-1 Metis-Mlarger figure on 0 of 2

None

BGM-71 TOWlarger figure on 2 of 2

Diameter+17%
Speed+50%

Counts only measures both sources give with the same scope. A larger figure is not a better system.

Measured figures

Head to head

22 of 85 rows sourced on both sides

980mm

1.41–1.51m

Length

All recorded figures & sources

0.98 m

Length

Single source

980 mm^[source]

1.41–1.51 m

with probe extended (some variants have no probe)

Single source

Configuration

Details

9K115-1 Metis-M and BGM-71 TOW configuration
Specification	9K115-1 Metis-M	BGM-71 TOW
Type	Anti-tank guided missile^[source]	Anti-tank missile^[source]
Place of origin	Russia^[source]	United States^[source]
In service	1992–present^[source]	1970–present^[source]
Used by	See Operators^[source]	See Operators

Wars	2006 Lebanon War Syrian Civil War War in Iraq (2013-2017)^[source]	Vietnam War Western Sahara War Third Indochina War Lebanese Civil War 1982 Lebanon War Soviet–Afghan War Iran–Iraq War Persian Gulf War War in Somalia Iraq War Syrian civil war War in Iraq (2013–2017) Russo-Ukrainian War Russian invasion of Ukraine Yemeni Civil War Saudi Arabian-led intervention in Yemen 2016 India-Pakistan Border skirmishes Conflict in Najran, Jizan and Asir 2025 Cambodia‒Thailand conflict^[source]

Manufacturer	KBP Instrument Design Bureau^[source]	RTX^[source]

Unit cost	$15,500 per missile (2019, export cost)^[source]	$93,640 (2B Aero), $54,956 (Bunker Buster) FY2021 £8,500 (1984)^[source]

Produced	1992–present^[source]	—

Warhead	HEAT tandem warhead, Armor penetration behind ERA : 800 mm (Metis-M) 900-980 mm (Metis-M1) thermobaric anti-personnel/anti-material warhead is also available^[source]	—

Engine	Solid-fuel rocket^[source]	—

Guidance system	SACLOS wire-guided missile^[source]	Optically tracked, wire-guided ( wireless radio-guided in RF variants)^[source]

Role	Russian portable anti-tank guided missile system^[source]	—

Source measurement	changes from the traveling to the firing position—and vice versa—in 15 – 20 seconds;^[source]9K115-1 Metis-M · Overview / Features; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage firing rate of 3 - 4 rounds per minute;^[source]9K115-1 Metis-M · Overview / Features; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage Metis-M1 is the upgraded variant of Metis-M. The new version has greater range of two kilometres (1.2 mi), more armor penetration of 900–980 mm (35–39 in), and reduced weight. It is designed to destroy main battle tanks with Active Protection Systems and Explosive Reactive Armor (ERA), light armored vehicles, fortifications, and other targets in day or night and in any weather condition.^[source]9K115-1 Metis-M · Overview / Metis-M1; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage South Korea purchased 220 Metis-M in two orders—70 in 1995 (Project Brown Bear I) and 150 in 2005 (Project Brown Bear II)—and acquired 9,000 missiles as of 2006. According to the tests, Metis-M was capable of penetrating 850 mm of RHA, providing great firepower for a weapon operated by 2 soldiers. However, between 2009 and 2011, the South Korean Army fired 17 missiles for testing, and 10 missiles either missed the target or didn't ignite the warhead upon impact (60% failure). After temporarily removing Metis-M from active service, the Army, the Agency for Defense Development , and the Defense Acquisition Program Administration test fired 43 missiles and achieved 41 hits (7% failure). The joint inspection team hypothesized faulty electronics on the guiding system or failing to maintain in good custody. However, they were not able to identify the cause of the issue, and Metis-M was put back into active service.^[source]9K115-1 Metis-M · Operational history / South Korea; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage	—

Source measurement

changes from the traveling to the firing position—and vice versa—in 15 – 20 seconds;^[source]9K115-1 Metis-M · Overview / Features; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage

firing rate of 3 - 4 rounds per minute;^[source]9K115-1 Metis-M · Overview / Features; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage

Metis-M1 is the upgraded variant of Metis-M. The new version has greater range of two kilometres (1.2 mi), more armor penetration of 900–980 mm (35–39 in), and reduced weight. It is designed to destroy main battle tanks with Active Protection Systems and Explosive Reactive Armor (ERA), light armored vehicles, fortifications, and other targets in day or night and in any weather condition.^[source]9K115-1 Metis-M · Overview / Metis-M1; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage

South Korea purchased 220 Metis-M in two orders—70 in 1995 (Project Brown Bear I) and 150 in 2005 (Project Brown Bear II)—and acquired 9,000 missiles as of 2006. According to the tests, Metis-M was capable of penetrating 850 mm of RHA, providing great firepower for a weapon operated by 2 soldiers. However, between 2009 and 2011, the South Korean Army fired 17 missiles for testing, and 10 missiles either missed the target or didn't ignite the warhead upon impact (60% failure). After temporarily removing Metis-M from active service, the Army, the Agency for Defense Development , and the Defense Acquisition Program Administration test fired 43 missiles and achieved 41 hits (7% failure). The joint inspection team hypothesized faulty electronics on the guiding system or failing to maintain in good custody. However, they were not able to identify the cause of the issue, and Metis-M was put back into active service.^[source]9K115-1 Metis-M · Operational history / South Korea; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage

—

Designer	—	Hughes Aircraft Company^[source]

Designed	—	1963–1968^[source]

No. built	—	> 700,000^[source]

Launch platforms	—	High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV)-mounted Improved Target Acquisition System (ITAS), HMMWV-mounted M220A4 launcher (TOW 2), Stryker Anti-Tank Guided Missile Vehicles, and Bradley Fighting Vehicle Systems (A2/A2ODS/A2OIF/A3)^[source]TOW family · named platforms Marine HMMWV-mounted M220A4 launcher (TOW 2), LAV-ATGM Vehicle, and AH1W Cobra attack helicopter^[source]TOW family · Marine platforms

Launch platforms

—

High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV)-mounted Improved Target Acquisition System (ITAS), HMMWV-mounted M220A4 launcher (TOW 2), Stryker Anti-Tank Guided Missile Vehicles, and Bradley Fighting Vehicle Systems (A2/A2ODS/A2OIF/A3)^[source]TOW family · named platforms

Marine HMMWV-mounted M220A4 launcher (TOW 2), LAV-ATGM Vehicle, and AH1W Cobra attack helicopter^[source]TOW family · Marine platforms

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