Hellfire

     Notes: This is a large, long-range ATGM developed for use by helicopters against armored vehicles.  Hellfire is laser-guided, and is actually able to climb out of cover and acquire a target illuminated by a third party.  Only one phase of illumination is required for target lock-on.  Some Hellfires were produced on an experimental basis as antiradar missiles, with IRFF guidance, and with ICM warheads.  These variants are extremely rare.  The Hellfire is supersonic and travels 1985 meters per phase.  The ground mount is currently used by Sweden, but other countries are evaluating it.

     AGM-114A, B, and C are straightforward shaped-charge warheads with semi-active laser homing guidance. They have a relatively short range and represent the first generation of Hellfire. The AGM-114D is a slightly improved version of the AGM-114C with an FF seeker; it was not produced in quantity. The AGM-114F is an upgrade of the AGM-114C, with a tandem HEAT warhead to be more effective against vehicles equipped with ERA.

     The AGM-114E was an experimental SEAD (Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses) version of the Hellfire.  This variant contains six DP bomblets in its warhead, each with a Damage of C2 B15; the fragments are designed to shear off antennas, and the bomblets can also penetrate armor (from the top, usually) with a Penetration of 10C. The missile is guided by a seeker which homes in on enemy radar emissions.

     The AGM-114K is not an upgrade of earlier Hellfires, being rather a new design, but is also equipped with a tandem warhead, which is more effective than earlier Hellfires. The AGM-114K-2A adds a fragmentation jacket to the warhead, making it more effective against personnel.

     The AGM-114L series is guided by fire and forget millimeter wave (MMW) radar, with backup inertial guidance. This allows, in addition to fire and forget capability, the Hellfire to home in on targets when obscured by weather or battlefield obscurants. The L-7/8A versions are designed to down UAVs, hence their wide burst radius, to throw a wall of fragments in the path of the UAV; they are also quite useful against infantry in the open.

     The AGM-114M is primarily designed for its blast/fragmentation effects, with the addition of incendiary fragments. It has limited effectiveness against armored targets.

     The AGM-114N uses a metal-augmented charge (MAC), hence it often being called the Hellfire MAC.  This is a thermobaric-type warhead using a probable mix of aluminum and magnesium micro-powder (this is a best guess; I have not been able to actually find the formula of the N’s warhead) to produce the thermobaric effect. The warhead has a considerable antipersonnel and bunker effect, and the warhead may be delayed detonating until penetration into a bunker or light armored target, or be fused for point-detonation, with this being selected by the gunner or weapons officer.

     The AGM-114P series was designed primarily for use by UCAVs such as the Predator and Reaper.  The AGM-114P-2A/B adds a fragmentation jacket; the P-2 series also has programmable fuzing in the same manner as the AGM-114N.

     The AGM-114R is equipped with a multifunction warhead, broadly capable against a wide variety of targets. It was meant to replace a number of earlier Hellfire variants, but has only partially done so; in addition, the AGM-114R and earlier Hellfires may themselves be replaced by the Joint Air to Ground Missile (JAGM). The AGM-114R-9E/H is designed to limit collateral damage, keeping the antiarmor effects while limiting the blast radius and concussion.

     Variously called by the troops the Ninja Missile and Flying Ginsu, the AGM-114R-9X has no warhead, thus virtually eliminating collateral damage. When fired, six sword-like blades pop out from the sides of the missile, further damaging the target, in addition to the effects of being hit by a 49-kilogram rocket-powered block of metal and concrete.  This variant is used for assassination attacks against enemy leaders.

     Twilight 2000 Notes: The Hellfire was adapted to vehicular mounts for use on the M2A3 and M3A3 Bradley Fighting Vehicles, the Hellfire HMMWV, and some other ground vehicle mounts. Variants above the AGM-114M are not available in the Twilight 2000 timeline.

**The fragments include incendiary fragments.  Treat as a WP explosion.

***This warhead has a delay fuze, allowing it to penetrate a target before the warhead explodes.

Javelin

     Notes: This weapon is an upgraded version of the Tankbreaker ATGM listed in the Twilight 2000 Version 2.2 rules.  (The Tankbreaker was an experimental missile that led to the Javelin, but was never actually fielded). While the missile is heavier and more capable, the firing unit is lighter and easier to carry.  The firing unit uses thermal imaging for night launches, and incorporates a 9x magnifying sight.  Like the Tankbreaker, the Javelin is fire-and -forget and top-attacking.  Unlike the Tankbreaker, the warhead is a tandem warhead. 

     Twilight 2000 Notes: The Javelin began to replace the Tankbreaker and Dragon just before the Twilight War in 1995, and a few were exported to friendly countries in Europe and to countries such as South Korea, Saudi Arabia, and Israel.

LOSAT

     Notes: LOSAT (Line-Of-Sight AntiTank) was due to be adopted around 2005 by NATO as an antiarmor and antiaircraft missile.  It would have been initially deployed from specially modified HMMWVs, but was adapted to other vehicles. The LOSAT is merely a tungsten slug powered by a high-velocity rocket engine, guided by a laser designator or fire-and-forget guidance.  It uses its speed to penetrate virtually all armor and catch targets before they can dodge away.  The LOSAT is launched from vehicle or aircraft pallets.  The LOSAT also has the ability to be fired as an unguided rocket. 

     Twilight 2000 Notes: Only 22 examples of this weapon were available at the time of the Twilight War; all were deployed to the Middle East.

*Penetration is 302 at ranges from 30-2200 meters, 292 from 2201-4400 meters, 248 from 4401-6600 meters, and 131 from 6601-8800 meters.

**In the unguided mode, the LOSAT is aimed and fired like a rocket launcher.  At this short range, penetration is always 302.

M47 Dragon Series 

     Notes: The Dragon was developed in the late 1960s to replace the 90mm recoilless rifle in US service as a MAW (Medium Antiarmor Weapon).  Early versions proved to be none too potent against armor, though hundreds were used as bunker busters by the US and Israelis.  The Dragon PIP (Product Improvement Program) produced the M47A2 Dragon 2, M47A3 Dragon 2T, and M47A4 Dragon 3, with the Dragon 2 improving penetration, the Dragon 2T using a heavier tandem warhead, and the Dragon 3 improving range and penetration as well as adding a day/night tracker.  The Dragon’s missile tube and launcher are disposable, and any tracker can fire any missile type.  Though the Dragon 1 and 2 were widely fielded, the Dragon2T and Dragon 3 largely fell by the wayside in favor of the Javelin in the US and the Gill and Spike in Israel.

     Twilight 2000 Notes: The Dragon 2T and 3 were produced in larger numbers than in the Notes; they were deployed mostly in the Continental US and in Canada.

     Merc 2000 Notes: All four of these missiles were produced, but the 2T and 3 ended up mostly in Third World countries, and most stocks of the Dragon 1 and 2 were also sold off after the fielding of the Tankbreaker, and later the Javelin.

Predator

     Notes:  This is a short-range ATGM designed for use in street fighting.  It is designed to partially supplement the M136 and M72 rocket launchers, and provides a much superior weapon to either of those weapons.  The Predator can be fitted with either an HEDP anti-bunker warhead (in which case it is known as the MPIMSRAW or Predator-AB), or the standard top-attack EFP warhead.  The missile comes pre-packed and is disposable.  As of 2003, the Predator is being deployed in small numbers in the US, and the British, Norwegians, Israelis, and South Africans are looking at it.

     Twilight 2000 Notes: This weapon began to equip US Army and Marines in 1997, and was rather rare in the Twilight War. 

     Merc 2000 Notes: Predator largely fell victim to budget cuts in the early 2000s.

Shillelagh 

     Notes:  An ATGM used in the 152mm gun/missile system of the M60A2 and M551 tanks.  The Shillelagh is fired through the gun tube of the M551 Sheridan (the M60A2 being long out of service) and uses IR guidance.  There are significant disadvantages to the Shillelagh, such as its high minimum range, the tendency for the Sheridan’s gun tube to crack after a large amount of Shillelagh launches (possibly as few as 100) unless using the MGM51C version of the missile, and the tendency of the guidance system to lose track of the missile altogether.  The first version of the Shillelagh is the MGM51A, the MGM51B increased range by 50%, but is longer and heavier; the MGM51C is essentially identical to the MGM51B, but eliminates the gun barrel cracking and guides more reliably.  With the removal of Sheridans from the 82^nd Airborne, the Shillelagh also passed out of service.

     Twilight 2000 Notes: The Sheridans put in a spectacular performance during the Twilight War, and the crews partially credit the Shillelagh for that.  Most Shillelaghs used during the Twilight War were MGM51C’s.

Superdragon

     Notes:  This is the ultimate version of the M47 Dragon ATGM series.  Its day/night tracker is equipped with active/passive IR, and the tracker has digital electronics and test equipment that allows the user to test and repair many problems without special equipment.  The missile has a tandem warhead with an increased propellant charge that allows it to defeat reactive armor and achieve greater range.  The Superdragon tracker may fire all types of Dragon missiles.  This missile fell victim to missiles with newer technology and lower cost.

     Twilight 2000 Notes: This missile was not used much by the US, Israel, and most other countries formerly using the Dragon, as in most of those cases the Dragon was replaced by missiles such as Tankbreaker, Javelin, Predator, NT-S Spike/NT-G Gill, and other newer weapons.  However, it was widely marketed in the Second and Third World, and was diverted to US and Canadian military use after the Mexican invasion of the Southwestern US and Russian Invasion of Alaska and Western Canada. 

TOW Series 

     Notes: The TOW (Tube-launched, Optically-tracked, Wire-guided) is the standard heavy ATGM in nearly 20 nations.  It is also used to arm dozens of APCs and tank destroyers, as well as helicopters.  The TOW system has been continually updated since its first use in Vietnam in the early 70s; the newest versions are state-of-the-art.  Differences between TOW versions are mostly in the missile, although launching equipment has been lightened.  TOW-1 is the basic version, and can fire only TOW-1, TOW-1A, or I-TOW missiles; all other launchers can fire all types of missiles except the TOW-3 (only a TOW-3 launcher may fire that missile).  There is no dedicated I-TOW ground mount launcher.  The TOW-2 and TOW-3 launchers add a thermal imager as well as miniaturizing some of the electronics.