British Army awards contract to Thales for more NLAWs

5 November 2022

12 Less than a minute

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Back Blast !! As the NLAW fires a back blast of flames come out of the rear of the tube, this is the initial blast that forces the rocket out of the tube before a secondary rocket starts and takes it to the target. Gurkhas have demonstrated the firepower they can bring to bear as part of the British ArmyÕs rapid reaction force. 1st Battalion The Royal Gurkha RiflesÕ Anti-Tank Platoon opened fire with Javelin and Next Generation Light Anti-tank Weapon (NLAW) missiles on a wind-swept Salisbury Plain as the culmination of a training package for soldiers joining the platoon. The two high-tech weapon systems are intended to give infantry on the ground the capability to destroy tanks and lightly armoured vehicles, but also provide an all-weather, day or night capability against fixed positions such as bunkers and buildings. Javelin and NLAW are the most potent and precise weapons carried by 1RGR in their current role as an infantry battlegroup in the Air Assault Task Force, which is held ready to deploy anywhere in the world at short notice to conduct the full range of military operations. Photographer: Corporal Stephen Harvey / MoD

Thales U.K., a business unit of France-based Thales technology company, was awarded a contract from the British Army for additional NLAW single-shot infantry anti-tank systems.

According to U.K. Defense Secretary Ben Wallace, the Ministry of Defense had signed a deal to start replenishing missile stocks run down by the supply of weapons to Ukraine.

Within the contract, British Army will receive 500 NLAW anti-tank weapons in 2023.

Wallace also said a further deal for thousands of weapons for Britain and other customers will be signed next year.

The NLAW is a single-shot infantry anti-tank system consisting of a disposable launcher preloaded with a single guided missile. NLAW utilizes predicted line-of-sight guidance and has overflown top and direct attack modes. It is easy to use, making it a valuable tank destroyer for light forces that operate dismounted in all environments, including built-up areas.

It also has night vision capability and is designed for all climate conditions and environments.

The British-supplied NLAW became one of the symbols of the Ukrainian Soldiers’ resilience in the war against the Russian occupiers, which began on February 24th. Official London handed over many anti-tank systems that helped stop the rapid invasion of Russian troops.

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