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At a glance
BGM-71 TOWlarger figure on 1 of 1
NLAWlarger 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 | NLAW |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Anti-tank missile[source] | Anti-tank missile Surface-to-surface missile Surface-to-air missile[source] |
| Place of origin | United States[source] | Sweden United Kingdom[source] |
| In service | 1970–present[source] | 2009–present[source] |
| Used by | See Operators[source] | See § Operators[source] |
1.16–1.17 m with probe folded 1.41–1.51 m with probe extended (some variants have no probe)[source]
Length
Single source102 cm (3 ft 4 in)[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
Mass
Single source12.5 kg (28 lb)[source]
Maximum; 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; Effective firing range
Single sourceMaximum; Maximum firing range
Single sourcemissile body
Single sourcewarhead
Single source115 mm (4.5 in) missile body 150 mm (5.9 in) warhead[source]
maximum
Single sourcesoft-launch
Single source40 m/s (130 ft/s) soft-launch 200 m/s (660 ft/s) maximum[source]
Bars compare reported quantities only. A larger figure does not make a system better; configurations and test conditions differ.
| 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] | Russo-Ukrainian War Russian invasion of Ukraine[source] |
|---|
| Designer | Hughes Aircraft Company[source] | Saab Bofors Dynamics[source] |
|---|
| Designed | 1963–1968[source] | 1999–2008[source] |
|---|
| Unit cost | $93,640 (2B Aero), $54,956 (Bunker Buster) FY2021 £8,500 (1984)[source] | US$30,000–40,000 (domestic cost, FY 2008)[source] |
|---|
| No. built | > 700,000[source] | 24,200+[source] |
|---|
| Guidance system | Optically tracked, wire-guided ( wireless radio-guided in RF variants)[source] | PLOS (Predicted Line Of Sight)[source] |
|---|
| Manufacturer | RTX[source] | Saab Bofors Dynamics Thales Air Defence and more (see § Production )[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 | — |
|---|
| Produced | — | 2008–present[source] |
|---|
| Sights | — | 2.5x telescopic sight with night vision[source] |
|---|
| Warhead | — | HEAT[source] |
|---|
| Detonation mechanism | — | Proximity fuze (Overfly Top Attack) Contact fuze (Direct Attack)[source] |
|---|
| Blast yield | — | >500 mm (20 in) armour penetration[source] |
|---|
| Launch platform | — | Man-portable launcher[source] |
|---|
| Reported operators |
| — |
|---|