MAPATS

MAPATS, short for Man-Portable Anti-Tank System, is an Israeli laser-guided anti-tank missile system produced by Israeli Military Industries and first adopted in 1984. It is a complete battlefield system rather than a single weapon, made up of the missile, a launcher, a tripod and integrated optics, and it can also be mounted on vehicles such as light all-terrain jeeps. The operator fires it and then keeps the crosshairs on the center of the target while the 156mm missile rides an infrared laser beam, correcting its course through an onboard autopilot. Because it is beam-riding it cannot be jammed by ordinary electronic countermeasures or chaff and flare. Sealed factory containers let a team reload within seconds, effective range runs from 300 to 6,000 meters, and the warhead can defeat up to 1,200mm of steel armor. Tandem HEAT and high-explosive warheads exist, and an improved version appeared in 1990. Export buyers include Chile, Ecuador, Estonia and Venezuela.