That is correct and we (America)make both the Javelin and the Tow….whats funny is the Tow has a longer range, which in the video, it isn’t showing its true capability.

The portable system is easy to separate into main components and easy to set up when needed. Compared to more cumbersome anti-tank weapon systems, the difference is noticeable. For example, a TOW requires a heavy tripod stand, a bulky protective case for the thermal sight, a larger, longer launch tube, and requires much more time to assemble and prepare. The Javelin (although very heavy) is lighter than other missiles and their necessary parts.

Although the CLU’s thermal imaging may hinder aiming, its thermal targeting allows the Javelin to be a fire-and-forget system. This gives the firer an opportunity to be out of sight and possibly moving to a new angle to fire from, or out of the area by the time the enemy realizes they are under attack. This is much safer than using a wire-guided system because the firer must stay at the same location the missile was fired from and guide the missile into the target.

Another advantage is the Javelin’s power at impact. The missile has a tandem shaped charge in its warhead that is made to penetrate reactive armor. The Javelin was created with the intent to be able to penetrate any tank armor and was tested on the M1 Abrams Tank. With the top attack mode it has an even greater ability to destroy the tank because it can attack where most tanks are the weakest.

The soft launch capability of the Javelin allows it to have only a minimal backblast area. This enables the Javelin to be fired from inside a wide variety of structures. This gives the Javelin advantages in urban fighting over the widely used AT4, which has a very large backblast area. A large backblast area would seriously injure personnel if fired from inside a small structure.

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Disadvantages

The main drawback of the system is its 49.5 lb total weight. This does not account for the additional batteries (BA5590 lithium battery) which weigh around 2.25 lbs each. Each battery is estimated to last 4 hours by the Javelin’s manufacturer. A normal load for batteries (not counting the “just in case” extras that most teams carry) is 5-10. This number may be more or less depending on the length of mission. The system is designed to be portable by infantry on foot and weighs more than the original specified weight the army called for. The weight of the system and a normal combat load make the Javelin team the most burdened American basic infantry currently deployed. The other two man infantry team which compares to this, is the M240G machine gun team.

Another drawback of the system is the reliance on a thermal view to acquire targets. The thermal views are not able to operate until the refrigeration component has cooled the system. The manufacturer estimates 30 seconds until this is complete, but depending on the ambient temperature, this process may take much longer. The thermal views are also occasionally hindered by a naturally occurring phenomena where the temperature of the earth heats or cools rapidly, and may interfere with the recognition and lock-on of the intended target.

The range of the Javelin is also a negative. With a current maximum range of only 2,500 m, it falls short of the other mainstay of anti-tank weaponry, the BGM-71 TOW. The TOW is much larger and has a maximum range of 3,000 m for the BGM-71A, and 3,750 m for all others (BGM-71B through BGM-71F.)