MILAN

Background

MILAN is a product of Euromissile, a Franco-West German missile development program dating back to the 1960s. The system entered service in 1972 as a second generation anti-tank weapon and soon became a standard anti-tank weapon throughout NATO, in use by most of the alliance's individual armies.

Consisting of two main components, the launcher and the missile, the MILAN system uses a semi-automatic command to line of sight (SACLOS) command guidance system. It tracks the missile either by a tail-mounted infrared lamp or an electronic-flash lamp, depending on the model. Because it is guided by wire by an operator, the missile cannot be affected by radio jamming or flares. However, drawbacks include short range, exposure of the operator, and problems with overland powerlines.

The MILAN 2 variant, which entered service with the French, German and British armies in 1984, uses an improved 115 mm high-explosive anti-tank (HEAT) shaped charge warhead. The MILAN 3 entered service with the French army in 1995 and features a new-generation localizer that makes the system more difficult to jam electronically.

Variants

• MILAN 1: Single, main shaped charge warhead (1972), calibre 103 mm
• MILAN 2: Single, main shaped charge warhead, with standoff probe to increase penetration (1984) – see photo to right, calibre 115 mm
• MILAN 2T: Tandem shaped charge warheads to defeat reactive armour (1993)
• MILAN 3: Tandem, shaped charge warheads (1996) and electronic beacon to defeat Shtora jammer
• MILAN ER: Extended range (3,000 m) and improved penetration

The later MILAN models have tandem-charge HEAT warheads. This was done to keep pace with developments in Soviet armour technology: their tanks began to appear with explosive reactive armour (ERA), which could defeat earlier anti-tank guided missiles (ATGMs). The smaller precursor HEAT warhead penetrates and detonates the ERA tiles, exposing the way for the main HEAT warhead to penetrate the armour behind. Early missile versions used a simple flare to show the launch post their position left–right and above–below the crosshair, which then led to steering commands (SACLOS guidance). This was exploited with IR jammers such as Soviet Shtora that created a strong signal that was always on target, and thus led to wrong steering commands. The later electronic IR beacon used a coded signal sequence (switching between emitting and not emitting) that enabled the launch post to discern the missile's beacon from the jammer.

Combat use

Afghanistan

MILAN missile systems were among the numerous weapons sent to the Mujahideen in Afghanistan in the 1980s by the United States to combat Soviet troops. The MILAN had a devastating effect on Soviet armor, having a similar effect on tanks and armored personnel carriers as Stinger missiles had on Soviet helicopters. In 2010, French troops killed four Afghan civilians in Kapisa Province using a MILAN system during a firefight.

Chadian–Libyan conflict

MILAN missiles provided by the French government saw common usage during the war between Chad and Libya where they were used by Chadian forces. Often mounted on Toyota pickup trucks, the missiles successfully engaged Libyan armour in the Aouzou Strip including T-55 tanks.

Falklands War

In 1982, the ruling military junta in Argentina launched the invasion of the UK overseas territory of the Falkland Islands, leading to the Falklands War. British forces used MILAN, along with the M72 LAW and Carl Gustaf, in a 'bunker buster' role. The MILAN saw use in the battles for Goose Green, Mount Longdon, Two Sisters and Wireless Ridge.

Gulf War

MILAN was used by both coalition and Iraqi forces during the Persian Gulf War, with a MILAN launcher operated by French forces claiming to have destroyed seven T-55 tanks. Iraqi operated MILAN missiles were supplied by the French government during the 1980s and were used by Iraqi forces during both Gulf Wars.

Iraq

In 2015, Germany supplied the Peshmerga with 30 MILAN launchers and over 500 missiles.

Syria

Syria ordered about 200 launchers and 4,000 missiles in 1977 which were delivered in 1978-1979 and used by the Syrians during the Lebanese Civil War. The Syrian army used Milan missiles against Israeli tanks in Lebanon in 1982. The missiles were in service during the Syrian Civil War, fielded by the Republican Guard. Syrian rebels captured some in depots, as did ISIL. The Kurdish YPG also used Milans supplied by the international coalition.

South Africa

The first Milan version was delivered to the Special Forces and the antitank platoons in the late 1970s and 1980s at a scale of six launchers per platoon. Each platoon was organised into three antitank sections, with two ATGM launchers and two M40A1 106 mm recoilless guns or two rocket launchers.

Six SADF MILAN teams were deployed by the Special Forces in support of the Angolan UNITA guerrillas, in the Cazombo Salient in 1985 during Operation Wallpaper.

Russian invasion of Ukraine

France has sent MILAN missiles to Ukraine during the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Operators

Current operators

• Afghanistan – Afghan National Army: 271
• Algeria – Algerian People's National Army: 340
• Bahrain - Royal Bahraini Army: mounted on 5 AIFV-B-Milan vehicles: 343
• • Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina: 90
• • Botswana Defence Force
• Burundi - Burundi Army (reported): 465
• Cameroon - Cameroon Army: 466
• – Chadian Ground Forces: 469 mounted on light vehicles
• – Cypriot National Guard: 95
• – Egyptian Army: 345
• – French Army: Infantry and vehicle-mounted weapon.: 105 Will be replaced by Missile Moyenne Portée (MMP) from 2017.
• • Gabon Army: 478
• – Bundeswehr: 109
• – Hellenic Army: 112
• – Indian Army: 34,100 MILAN-2T bought. License produced by Bharat Dynamics in India.
• Indonesia - Indonesian Army: 276
• – Iraqi Army
• Kurdistan – Peshmerga: 30 launchers and 500 missiles, delivery in two portions was announced on 31 August 2014 by German Bundeswehr. These are 1980s Milan 2 replaced by later models but still in storage. Used by the Kurds to stop ISIL vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices (VBIEDs).
• – Italian Army Total of 714 launchers with 17,163 missile delivered in 1990. 807 MILAN 2T ordered in 2004 and delivered in 2005 (SIPRI).
• Jordan - mounted on 45 AIFV-B-Milan vehicles: 358
• – Kenyan Army: 483
• – Lebanese Army: 362
• – Libyan National Army: 1,000 MILAN-3 exported between 2008 and 2011, 400 systems in 2011.
• – Army of the Republic of Macedonia: 126
• – Mauritanian Army: 365
• – Mexican Army: mounted on 8 Panhard VBL scout cars: 427
• – Royal Moroccan Army: 367
• Oman - Royal Army of Oman and Royal Household: 370
• – Portuguese Army; Portuguese Marines: 137
• Flag of Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK).svg PKK:
• Saudi Arabia - Saudi Arabian Army: 373
• • Senegalese Army: 496
• Singapore - Singapore Army: 307
• – South African Army: 375 missiles.
• – Syrian Army: 377
• Syria Free Syrian Army: Some captured.
• People's Protection Units Flag.svg YPG
• Islamic State
• – Tunisian Armed Forces: 120 missiles.
• – Turkish Army: 154
• : some donated by France to support the Ukrainian army in war against Russia.
• : 381
• – Uruguayan Army: 438
• – Yemeni Armed forces

Former operators

• Australia – Australian Army: Was used by infantry and mounted on vehicles. The Australian Army withdrew the MILAN from service in the early 1990s. The ADF now fields the FGM-148 Javelin system.
• Belgium – Belgian Army: Infantry weapon; replaced by Spike-LR in 2014
• Brazil – Brazilian Army
• – Estonian Defence Forces
• – Irish Army: Infantry weapon; replaced by the FGM-148 Javelin.
• Somalia - imported in 1978-1979
• – Spanish Army
• Flag of UNITA.svg UNITA: 150 missiles.
• United Kingdom – British Army; Royal Marines – While primarily an infantry weapon, it was also used in the FV120 Spartan MCT turret. Over 50,000 missiles were purchased for use in the British Armed Forces. The MILAN was deployed against Argentine bunkers in the Falklands conflict and later against T-55s during the Persian Gulf War. It was replaced by the FGM-148 Javelin in mid-2005. Previously made under licence by British Aerospace Dynamics.

References

;Notes

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