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Top Attack
The Javelin climbs to 150 metres and strikes from above, where a tank’s armour is weakest, at an angle of about 45 degrees. The minimum range for top attack is 150 metres, the maximum 2.5 kilometres.
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Direct Attack
This is how a Javelin hits covered targets, buildings or helicopters. It fires on a lower, more direct path and aims at their sides. The minimum range for direct attack is 65 metres, the maximum is 2.5 kilometres.
The might of the metal-mashing Javelin missile.
Just imagine. You’ve been dropped behind enemy lines to destroy a pair of tanks. You locate them. You flick the Javelin’s sight to thermal and confirm they are enemy tanks. You squeeze the trigger and start a chain of events you can’t stop. A £60,000 missile will rocket into the skies at over 300mph and, in a blistering 17 seconds, hit its target two kilometres away. There will be only one outcome – an extremely mangled tank.
"A £60,000 missile will rocket into the skies at over 300mph."
There is no explosion or terrific ball of flames as you squeeze the trigger. The Javelin missile makes a quiet ‘click’ as it leaves the weapon before its main motor kicks in and it streaks into the skies. You watch through the sight as the weapon guides itself onto the target and a small flash indicates the first tank has been taken out. Sixty seconds later, after a rapid reload, a second flash confirms your mission is accomplished.
