FORCETALLY
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At a glance
BGM-71 TOWlarger figure on 1 of 1
FGM-148 Javelinlarger figure on 0 of 1
Counts only measures both sources give with the same scope. A larger figure is not a better system.
Measured figures
with probe extended (some variants have no probe)
Single sourcewith probe folded
Single sourceConfiguration
| Specification | BGM-71 TOW | FGM-148 Javelin |
|---|---|---|
| Crew | — | 1 or 2[source] |
| Type | Anti-tank missile[source] | Anti-tank missile Surface-to-surface missile Surface-to-air missile[source] |
| Place of origin | United States[source] | United States[source] |
| In service | 1970–present[source] | 1996–present[source] |
| Used by |
1.16–1.17 m with probe folded 1.41–1.51 m with probe extended (some variants have no probe)[source]
missile
Single source1.1 m (43 in) (missile)[source]
TOW 2B Aero · encased · Mass
Single sourceTOW 2B Aero · missile, unencased · Mass
Single sourceTOW Bunker Buster · missile · Mass
Single source49.8 pounds[source]TOW 2B Aero · missile, unencased
65 pounds[source]TOW 2B Aero · encased
45.2 pounds[source]TOW Bunker Buster · missile
detachable CLU
Single sourceJavelin · missile and command launch unit together · Mass
Single sourceMaximum; Maximum speed
Single source278–320 m/s[source]
Operational; Basic TOW most variants
Single sourceOperational; Operational range
Single sourceTOW 2B Aero · maximum range · Maximum range
Single sourceBasic TOW 3,000 m, most variants 3,750 m[source]
4,500 meters[source]TOW 2B Aero · maximum range
Effective; From vehicle
Single sourceEffective; Lightweight CLU
Single sourceBarrel length
Single source1.2 m (47 in)[source]
Bars compare reported quantities only. A larger figure does not make a system better; configurations and test conditions differ.
See Operators[source]
See Operators[source] |
| Wars | 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] | War in Afghanistan Iraq War Syrian Civil War Second Libyan Civil War Russo-Ukrainian War[source] |
|---|
| Designer | Hughes Aircraft Company[source] | Texas Instruments & Martin Marietta , now Raytheon Technologies & Lockheed Martin[source] |
|---|
| Designed | 1963–1968[source] | June 1989[source] |
|---|
| Unit cost | $93,640 (2B Aero), $54,956 (Bunker Buster) FY2021 £8,500 (1984)[source] | US$216,717 (G-model missile only, FY2021) US$240,000 (missile only, export cost, FY2019) US$249,700 (Lightweight CLU only, FY2021)[source] |
|---|
| No. built | > 700,000[source] | 50,000 missiles (12,000 CLUs)[source] |
|---|
| Guidance system | Optically tracked, wire-guided ( wireless radio-guided in RF variants)[source] | Infrared homing[source] |
|---|
| Manufacturer | RTX[source] | Raytheon & Lockheed Martin[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 | shoulder-fired[source]Javelin |
|---|
| Produced | — | 1996–present[source] |
|---|
| Variants | — | See: § Variants[source] |
|---|
| Sights | — | Optical sight & thermal imaging[source] |
|---|
| Warhead | — | Tandem-charge HEAT[source] |
|---|
| Detonation mechanism | — | Contact fuze[source] |
|---|
| Blast yield | — | Penetration: Stated as being in excess of 30 in (760 mm) RHA[source] |
|---|
| Propellant | — | Solid-fuel[source] |
|---|
| Flight ceiling | — | 150 m (490 ft) (top attack mode) 60 m (200 ft) (direct attack mode)[source] |
|---|
| Launch platform | — | Man-portable launcher[source] |
|---|
| Reported operators |
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|---|
missile in launch tube
Single sourceready to fire
Single source22.3 kg (49 lb), ready to fire 6.4 kg (14 lb), detachable CLU 15.9 kg (35 lb), missile in launch tube[source]
49.5 pounds[source]Javelin · missile and command launch unit together
Effective; Original CLU
Single sourceOriginal CLU: 2,500 m (1.6 mi) Lightweight CLU: 4,000 m (2.5 mi) From vehicle: 4,750 m (2.95 mi)[source]