The "Gil" Personal Anti-Tank Missile [Pics too]

Israel Defense Forces ^ | May 8, 2003 | IDF Spokesperson's Unit

[yonif]

May 8, 2003

The "Gil" Personal Anti-Tank Missile

Based on lessons drawn from various wars fought by the IDF, it was decided to make improvements in the area of firepower and (battlefield) command and control, as well as intelligence gathering on the battlefield.

IMI (Israeli Military Industries) has developed advanced missiles that fit the above-mentioned areas of improvement, including the "Popeye" and "Python" aerial missiles, the "Barak" naval missile, and the "Gil" anti-tank missile.The "Gil" anti-tank missile, manufactured by Rafael, is a member of the "Spike" family.

The IDF makes widespread use of anti-tank missiles used againist armored vehicles and APC's. Anti-tank missiles can be mounted and fired with pinpoint accuracy from stationary positions, aircraft, and vehicles, thereby improving the firepower as well as manuverability of the IDF.

It should also be noted that Rafael anti-tank missiles contribute to the IDF's strategy of transferring the battle to enemy territory.

Anti-Tank Missile Categories:

Anti-tank missiles are organized according to their technological development and guidance systems.

First Generation Missiles:

Wire-guided missiles, which must be manually guided to their target. After the missile is launched, a tube releases a wire which trails back to the launcher and is directed by the soldier. A common variation: the Egyptian "Sagger" anti-tank missile.

Second Generation Missiles:

Partially automatically guided missiles. When a target is chosen, the soldier who directs the missile must paint the target during the duration of the missile's flight.

A common example: the Israeli "Orlev" missile (TOW 2). These generation of missiles also includes "laser guided" missiles, such as the American "Hellfire" and Israeli "Mapatz" missiles.

Third Generation Missiles:

"Fire and forget" missiles. These missiles are essentially independent from the moment of launch, or, once a missile "lock" has been established.

In addition to the above-mentioned missiles, there are advanced variants which are optically guided via a camera that broadcasts images of the target from the perspective of the missile, thereby enabling the soldier to direct the missile with pinpoint accuracy.

The "Gil" Missile

The "Gil" is a personal, third generation, "fire and forget, missile. The "Gil" is able to receive data subsequent to its launch, and is capable of switching targets while in flight.

The "Gil" is one of the most advanced missiles in the world, and was developed by the Rafael arms industry in cooperation with the IDF during the 1990's.

The advent of the "Gil" revolutionized the Israeli arms industry, as the IDF had previously relied on the "Orev" and "Gavnoni" anti-tank missiles. Currently, the IDF bases its anti-tank capabilities primarily on the "Gil" type anti-tank missiles.

Advantages of the Gil Missile

1) Versatility: The missile can be adapted to naval, aerial, and land platforms.

2) Range: Range of 4km.

3) The warhead seeker: The warhead seeker is electro-optical (TV) and enables tracking as well as pinpoint target acquisition. In addition, the "Gil's" fiber-optic communcations system allows for the collection of vital intelligence gathering, the ability to seek hidden targets, and prevents firing against targets which have been previously destroyed.

4) All weather capability: The missile operates in all weather conditions and in nocturnal scenarios. The ability of the "Gil" to operate in the above-mentioned conditions represents a signifcant technological advance.

5) Tandem (double) warhead: The tandem double warhead allows for increased penetration, especially against reactive armor, and enables the second warhead to penetrate the target.

6) Fire and forget capability: Automatic target guidance.

7) Fire and optic capabilities: This includes the ability to update target information and to switch between targets during a flight.

8) Vertical assault trajectory.

9) Fiber optic communication.

10) Lightweight: Each infantry soldier can carry up to two missiles on his back.




The "Gil" is a specialized missile designed to deal with all threats on the battlefield, including MBT's (main-line battletanks) and helicopters. The launching system was designed to give the soldiers employing it a high degree of survivability.

Technical Details

*Weight: 13.3kg

*Length: 115 centimeters

*Barrel diameter: 110 millimeters

*Impact zone: 400-4000 meters.

The integration of the "Gil"missile into IDF infantry and anti-tank units significantly improves their capabilities against enemy armor and helicopters.

The replacement of the "Givoni" missile will help provide quick responses to specific quality targets on the battlefield.

[Psycho_Bunny]

Are they out yet? I can't find one at Buy.com

[68skylark]

Weight: 13.3kg

Is this a typo? I'm not a big-time expert, but this seems too light to be real effective.

[zarf]

Try ebay....toy section.

[Asclepius]

'Gil' means joy in Hebrew.

Doubtless this device will bring joy to Syrian tank commanders.

[upchuck]

Are they out yet? I can't find one at Buy.com

Nothing on Ebay either. Damn! And I was planning on buying a dozen. :)

[ErnBatavia]

Well, that's just a hair under 30 pounds...dunno.

[Lazamataz]

THIS is what I am talking about, when I say "Second Amendment"!

[Slings and Arrows]

I am not an expert (nor do I play one on TV), but if the guidance system is all it's cracked up to be, it may be designed to target vulnerable areas, such as top armor, turret joints, treads, etc.

[ctlpdad]

I'd like to get one of those to take out my teachers-union local president bitch sister-in-laws subaru!

[Cachelot]

target vulnerable areas, such as top armor, turret joints

Yep. Spec says something about vertical attack :)).

[ctlpdad]

a depleted uranium round doesn't weigh much either.

[yonif]

More Pics From the IDF (first week of May)

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/908674/posts

[TC Rider]

Nothing on Ebay either. Damn! And I was planning on buying a dozen. :)

Silly, you have to get them through the gun show loophole.

[68skylark]

A TOW missle weighs about 60 lbs. A TOW with its tripod, guidance gear, etc weighs about 320 lbs. If this Israeli missle weighs about 30 lbs, it seems rather light. Maybe it's intended more for use against APC, bunkers, etc -- and not for use against modern tanks. Or maybe the writer put the decimal place in the wrong position when he gave the weight.

[SJSAMPLE]

DU is (was) only used in penetrator rounds that require significant hardness, density and speed to work. AT rounds from a portable tube launcher can't achieve the speeds required for penetration, so they use high explosive, shaped-charge warheads. Those are the heavier rounds.

[TheAngryClam]

DU is the worst thing ever, it kills children, mains the living, and pollutes everywhere it reaches for years on end.

Oh wait, I thought you were talking about DemocraticUnderground.com, not depleted uranium.

[xm177e2]

Maybe it's intended more for use against APC, bunkers, etc -- and not for use against modern tanks. Or maybe the writer put the decimal place in the wrong position when he gave the weight.

Nope, the Gil is an anti-tank missile and the article says it's light enough that one soldier can carry two of them.

[lodwick]

Where do we get ours?

[68skylark]

Nope, the Gil is an anti-tank missile and the article says it's light enough that one soldier can carry two of them.

Well this article/ad really makes this missle sound like a great piece of gear. If they can use a 30 lb missle to accomplish the same thing as a 60 lb TOW then the developers are really smart people -- or they've found a way to bend the laws of physics.