French missiles outperform American javelins

France has confirmed that it provided Ukraine with the latest Akeron MP anti-tank guided missiles. These were developed as an alternative to the American FGM-148 Javelin, among others. Let's delve into the capabilities of this innovative missile system from France.

A variety of handheld or team anti-tank weapons have been supplied to Ukraine. The most well-known of these were the American FGM-148 Javelin system. Additionally, other systems such as NLAW launchers, Panzerfaust 3 anti-tank grenade launchers, AT4 or RGW90 have notably been deployed.

Recently, the Akeron MP (also known as the MMP) missiles have joined this list of supplied weapons. These are the latest handheld anti-tank systems delivered to Ukraine.

This "fire and forget" system significantly outperforms the FGM-148A/B/C/D Block 0 series or FGM-148E Block 1 series, supplied to Ukraine since 2006. Whereas the range of the latter was up to 1.24 miles, the Akeron MP, according to the manufacturer, can eliminate targets at a distance of over 2.49 miles. Remarkably, during a 2018 test, a missile successfully hit a target from 3.11 miles away.

The development of the Akeron MP traces back to the year 2000 when the French sought a new anti-tank weapon. They chose not to buy another upgrade of the Milan, opting instead for the American FGM-148 Javelin missiles.

This decision compelled the French defense industry to create a system with similar features, initially called the Missile Moyenne Portée. The MBDA contract with the French DGA armaments agency in 2011, focusing on verifying this program's development capabilities, was key. In December 2013, the French ordered an initial batch of missiles. These were first publicized in 2014 at the Eurosatory trades. Tests took place over the following years, integrating the system with land vehicles and Eurocopter Tiger helicopters.

Like the FGM-148 Javelin, Akeron MP is a "fire and forget" system, allowing the shooter to take cover immediately after launching the missile, which autonomously locates and annihilates the assigned target. A sophisticated fourth-generation infrared (also known as IIR) sensor is used for this purpose. This sensor detects a thermal image, for example, from a tank. Notably, unlike older Javelins, Akeron MP's guiding head remains uncooled.

Though an uncooled sensor may be less sensitive, newer models perform better than their cooled predecessors. Additionally, an uncooled guide head allows for quicker fire-release. It also simplifies the design by eliminating the need for containers with cooling gas or a larger battery for thermoelectric cooling, based on the Peltier effect.

With these improvements, the entire system now weighs 57.3 lbs—33 lbs for the missile and 24.3 lbs for the launcher with the battery. Its advanced targeting capabilities allow it to take out targets at a distance of up to 3.11 miles, enough to incapacitate any Russian tank.

Like the Javelin or Israeli Spike, the missile can carry out overhead attacks in a dive. Its dynamic tandem warhead, capable of piercing over 3.28 feet of tank steel, can even penetrate multi-layered reactive armors or cages on tanks.

The warhead also creates fragments upon detonation, making it effective for neutralizing hidden enemy snipers. The system can launch projectiles over obstacles using a drone. As to be expected of a modern anti-tank guided missile, it can also be fired from within closed spaces.