NLAW Anti-tank Weapon Continues to Have a Field Day in Ukraine: You have probably noticed at National Security Journal that we have discussed the lackluster performance and even downright failure of Russian tanks in Ukraine.
One main reason is the proliferation of anti-tank weapons such as the Next-generation Light Anti-tank Weapon or NLAW.
The Ukrainians refer to this beauty as “St. NLAW.”
Even now, going on year three of the war, the NLAW is still being donated to Ukraine, and it continues to take out numerous Russian tanks and armored personnel carriers.
NLAW – Easy to Transport; Easy to Fire
Ukrainian soldiers can be trained on the NLAW in one day, which is remarkable for such an advanced weapon. It works great against stationary or moving targets and can be programmed to hit a tank from above to strike at the turret, where armor is often weakest. The range is notable, too, with the ability to engage targets at 20 meters to as far as 800 meters. Thousands of NLAWs have been sent to Ukraine.
Doom On You, Russia
Russian tankers often never know what hits them. One can only see a small puff of smoke and a glimpse of light, and then the anti-tank missile streaks to its target. The operation is simple. Soldiers carry the NLAW on their backs, unsling it, releasing the aiming device, and firing within ten to fifteen seconds.
Now You See Us Now You Don’t
At the beginning of the war, the United Kingdom was the source of many NLAWs. The American Javelin is outstanding, but the NLAW is lighter (28 pounds) and less expensive than the U.S. model. The NLAW is also effective at short range for quick-fire situations in trench warfare in Ukraine.
The Ukrainians can pop out of the ditches in a flash and take on an enemy vehicle with ease.
The Swedes Made a Marvelous Weapon
The Swedish firm Saab came up with the NLAW. I know that’s a surprise. You probably associate Saab with the distinct looking auto from the 90’s, but the Swedes knew what they were doing at the infantry tactical level too. The NLAW is finally assembled in Belfast, Northern Ireland.
At the beginning of the war in 2022, the British sent 4,200 NLAWs to Ukraine. Since then, many thousands more have reached the battlefield.
Operators Still Must Show How Daring They Can Be
While the NLAW is incredibly effective, it is only as good as its operator. You have to hand it to Ukrainian troops. They are brave enough to sneak up on Russian armor and discharge a kill shot with the NLAW. This courage under fire has given Vladimir Putin’s army headaches and sent its tanks and their crews to untimely deaths, leaving only a burnt-out carcass instead of a massive, armored vehicle.
T-90 Has Succumbed to NLAW Fire
Putin has declared the T-90 his best tank, but this model has been a victim of many NLAW strikes. The T-90 supposedly has a sensor contraption that could spot an anti-tank missile homing in on the tank, giving drivers and tank commanders early warning so they could make countermoves. This Shtora system was meant to counteract the missile before it could explode.
However, the sensor system appears to be failing against the NLAW. Much of this has to do with short-range attacks. At 20 to 50 meters, there is no time for the tankers or Shtora to react.
Russian crews have also welded iron cages to the tops of their tanks, hoping to block NLAWs and Javelins from attacking turrets. This has had limited effect on modern anti-tank missiles.
Saint NLAW has been a rousing success in Ukraine. Friendly forces have taken to it well. It is light, inexpensive, and easy to transport to the battlefield. Most important, it is lethal. The only way Russia could mitigate it is to use dismounted infantry to take out the enemy soldiers handling the weapon. But it is difficult to spot, and the Ukrainians are experts at setting up L-shaped ambushes that allow more than one of the NLAWs to shoot their missiles at once.
The NLAW has been a winner on the front lines in Ukraine. Look for it to be used by many other NATO armies.
About the Author
Brent M. Eastwood, PhD, is the author of Don’t Turn Your Back On the World: a Conservative Foreign Policy and Humans, Machines, and Data: Future Trends in Warfare, plus two other books. Brent was the founder and CEO of a tech firm that predicted world events using artificial intelligence. He served as a legislative fellow for U.S. Senator Tim Scott and advised the senator on defense and foreign policy issues. He has taught at American University, George Washington University, and George Mason University. Brent is a former U.S. Army Infantry officer. He can be followed on X @BMEastwood.
