If terminal guidance is so superfluous, why then is it considered such an attractive feature of the Copperhead CGLP, as well as several models and generations of British precision guided versions of both 120mm and 81mm mortar rounds?
It's one more potential tool in the loader's rack. And too I wonder how far we are from homing antiradiation missiles for tank main guns. The Germans were working on something along those lines as far back as a decade ago, for naval use, but then too their naval equipment included the MONARC concept for a frigate-class warship equipped with the 155mm gun turret of the SP Howitzer 2000.
The copperhead is guided by a forward observer...just like conventional artillery is spotted by a forward observer. And it isn’t a missile.
The Javelin is fired by dismounts.
Both are fine weapons, but not at all comparable to exposing the front of a main battle tank for a ten count, to guide a missile. If you’ve got a big gun that fires shape charges...just use it.
And the ‘tool in the loader’s rack’ argument doesn’t hold water. Everything, and I mean everything, in tank design is a trade-off. That missile in the loader’s rack displaces a conventional round.
Many moons ago, I was a tanker...and back then the old timers would talk about the M60, favorably....and talk about the Sheridan, unfavorably. Their complaints centered about the gun tube/missile launcher and the maintenance of it. According to them, it was lousy and un-needed. I believe them.
I think the Soviet/Russian doctrine makes them believe this is a good idea. Defense in depth...on a national scale against Hitler’s army, all the way down to the regimental level. Instead of lightly armed scouts, who see and report, they anticipate combat recon patrols, with BMP’s and tanks paired together. They see the enemy, they take a shot. In this scenario, a missile makes sense...since they are firing from an un-seen position...and probably against a scout or small element. Still bad doctrine though.
And I can think of absolutely no scenario in which a tank would fire an anti-radiation missile. Ignoring for a minute that aircraft/drones could fire these...what purpose would it serve? If a tank can see something, it doesn’t need guidance, it will just kill it with a sabot or HEAT. If it can’t see it....we have artillery and mortars.
BTW, if you are BEHIND just about any tank in the world, you don’t need top attack, you don’t need belly attack. Just hit the rear grill with just about anything.