Ukraine's secret weapon: the NLAW anti-tank system

Summary: Saab, known for cars like the 9-3 and 9-5, is primarily a weapons developer. Its NLAW (Next-Generation Light Anti-tank Weapon) is crucial in Ukraine's defense against Russian tanks.

-Designed for short-range use by a single soldier, the NLAW is effective out to 800 meters with a fire-and-forget missile system.

-Weighing 13 kilograms, it allows engagement at just 20 meters distance.

-The NLAW proved to be very effective, significantly contributing to Russian tank losses and providing Ukraine with a resilient defense.

NLAW against Russian tanks: how a simple tool has a big impact in Ukraine

In America, Saab is best known for automobiles like the 9-3 and 9-5, which have become cult collectibles since the company disappeared from the North American market. But automobiles have always been a secondary business for Saab, whose main expertise is weapons development. And while Saab's best-known weapons are probably its fighter jets, like the fourth-generation JAS 39 Gripen, Saab also makes an anti-tank weapon that Ukraine uses to defend against Russia.

Affordable tank defense

The NLAW, or Saab's Next Generation Light Anti-Tank Weapon, is well suited to combat on the plains of Eastern Europe. Russia, in invading Ukraine, relied heavily on tank columns, which makes sense. Eastern Europe is a vast open plain, well suited to tank combat. Indeed, Russia's use of tanks was anticipated, as Russia relied on these tanks to repel the Nazi invasion during World War II. During the Cold War, American war planners expected that a Russian attack would result in a tank advance across the plains of what is now Ukraine. Russia's massive use of tanks today in Ukraine is therefore common. Ukraine is fortunate to have a stockpile of cheap and effective anti-tank weapons like the NLAW.

According to Saab's website, the NLAW has a “powerful warhead, capable of defeating any modern MBT”, a “combat range of 20 to 800 meters” and a “time between target detection and engagement” of “approximately 5 seconds”.

“Developed in 2002 as a short-range, single-soldier anti-tank weapon system, we continue to work with Soldiers to provide the weaponry needed to succeed,” the Saab website states. “With nearly two decades of experience, the strong return of the tank to combat validates our expertise in this area. It's the same old story – and Davis still beats Goliath.

This is obviously corporate language. But by all reports, the NLAW is operating effectively on the Ukrainian battlefield.

Indeed, analysts estimate that the NLAW is responsible for 30 to 40% of Russian tank losses.

What exactly is NLAW?

The NLAW is a man-portable fire-and-forget missile, meaning the operator has no responsibility for guiding the missile after launch. This is particularly useful for troops who have exposed themselves in order to fire or who are actively under enemy fire.

The NLAW is comparable to the American-made FGM-148 Javelin. Both have an on-board guidance system. The difference between the NLAW and the Javelin, however, is that the NLAW has a shorter range and is lighter. Weighing 13 kilograms, the NLAW allows operators to shoot at targets as close as 20 meters.

It was weapons like the NLAW that allowed the Ukrainians to mount such stubborn and unexpected resistance against a superior adversary. Certainly, the NLAW is a simple tool that will not necessarily win the war in Ukraine. But the NLAW certainly allowed Ukraine to clog up the works of its enemy and enable what became a two-year labor of attrition.

About the Author: Harrison Kass

Harrison Kass is a defense and national security writer with more than 1,000 total articles on issues related to world affairs. A lawyer, pilot, guitarist, and minor professional hockey player, Harrison joined the United States Air Force as a trainee pilot, but was medically discharged. Harrison holds a BA from Lake Forest College, a JD from the University of Oregon, and an MS from New York University. Harrison listens to Dokken.

All images are Creative Commons.