The BGM-71 TOW missile is described as what kind of weapon?

The BGM-71 TOW missile is described as what kind of weapon?

• A. A tube-launched, optically tracked wire-guided missile capable of penetrating armor 30 inches thick at more than 3,000 meters
• B. A short-range anti-aircraft missile with IR guidance
• C. An air-to-air missile with radar guidance
• D. A missile with no armor penetration

Answer: (A)

The BGM-71 TOW is a tube-launched, optically tracked, wire-guided anti-tank missile. It’s designed to defeat heavy armor at long range—capable of penetrating about 30 inches of armor at distances beyond 3,000 meters. The guidance comes from the operator keeping the target in the optical sight while the missile is connected to the launcher by a guide wire, so commands are sent back to steer the missile along the line of sight. This combination of tube launch, optical tracking, and wire guidance is what makes it effective against armored vehicles at extended ranges, not against aircraft or as an unarmored projectile.

The BGM-71 TOW is a tube-launched, optically tracked, wire-guided anti-tank missile. It’s designed to defeat heavy armor at long range—capable of penetrating about 30 inches of armor at distances beyond 3,000 meters. The guidance comes from the operator keeping the target in the optical sight while the missile is connected to the launcher by a guide wire, so commands are sent back to steer the missile along the line of sight. This combination of tube launch, optical tracking, and wire guidance is what makes it effective against armored vehicles at extended ranges, not against aircraft or as an unarmored projectile.