Ukraine’s Weapon Reaches France: Tank-Hunting Technology Capable of Striking from Deadly Angles
France is set to become the fourth member state of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) to adopt the NLAW (Next Generation Light Anti-Tank Weapon), the Anglo-Swedish system that proved highly effective during the war in Ukraine.
Another NATO country is therefore preparing to field the Saab-developed NLAW system, with the shoulder-fired missile launchers being assigned to infantry anti-tank units.
On Tuesday, the French Directorate General of Armaments (DGA) signed a contract with the Swedish defense company Saab. Deliveries of the NLAW systems are expected to begin later this year and continue through 2030.
The French Army will receive an undisclosed number of NLAW systems, along with indoor and outdoor training equipment. The acquisition is expected to provide a new level of anti-armor capability and significantly enhance battlefield effectiveness for French forces.
The missile offers exceptional effectiveness, enabling a single soldier to neutralize even the most formidable armored threats within seconds.
The NLAW system is currently operated by three NATO members: Sweden, the United Kingdom, and Finland.
Saab stated: “NLAW provides armed forces with an outstanding anti-tank capability based on innovative technology, without requiring complex support equipment. Thanks to its intelligent guidance system, a single soldier can destroy any modern main battle tank with one shot, whether firing from inside a building, around a corner, or from behind cover.”
Shoulder-fired rocket systems remain highly relevant even in the era of drone warfare. During the early stages of the war in Ukraine, drones were not the primary weapon that halted the advance of Russian armored forces.
Instead, a range of Western-made anti-tank weapons enabled mobile Ukrainian units to ambush and destroy Russian tanks, effectively neutralizing their numerical advantage. Among these systems were the American-made Javelin missile, the Swedish AT4 launcher, and the Anglo-Swedish NLAW, all of which contributed to stopping the initial advance toward Kyiv.
The NLAW was specifically designed for close-range combat and urban warfare. It is widely regarded as one of the most effective systems due to its top-attack flight profile, allowing it to destroy tanks even when they are partially concealed behind cover.
Although drones remain the most transformative factor on the modern battlefield, the importance of the shoulder-fired NLAW cannot be overlooked. The weapon continues to play a critical role in direct urban combat, infantry support operations, and the engagement of armored targets along front lines.
In 2023, after the United Kingdom increased its order for these anti-tank systems, Saab President and CEO Mikael Johansson stated: “Demand for anti-tank systems such as NLAW continues to grow. We look forward to strengthening our close relationship with the United Kingdom and are proud to continue delivering our trusted and battle-proven anti-tank capabilities.”
The United Kingdom has supplied Ukraine with more than 5,500 NLAW systems throughout the war, making them a crucial component of Kyiv’s defensive operations.
The NLAW system is also effective against a wide range of targets, including fortified positions, armored ground vehicles, and even low-flying helicopters. Although its range is shorter than that of the American Javelin missile, its characteristics make it particularly suitable for specific tactical scenarios. In close-range urban combat, Saab’s anti-tank weapon remains one of the most effective portable missile launchers currently in service.
NLAW Specifications
- Weight: 12.5 kg for the complete system
- Length: 1.016 meters
- Effective range: 20 to 800 meters against stationary or moving targets
- Guidance system: Predicted Line of Sight (PLOS)
- Attack modes: Top attack and direct attack
- Warhead: 150 mm high-explosive anti-tank (HEAT) warhead capable of penetrating more than 500 mm of armor.
