Ukraine has been given an incredible amount of NATO and Western weapons to fight Russia.
Those arms have surely ensured that Putin’s forces not only can never conquer Ukraine, but deter any future aggression when the war does come to an end.
While the big-ticket items like tanks and missiles stand out, some of the smaller and lighter arms can certainly do a lot of damage.
Even older equipment from the Cold War days, like the TOW 2B missile, can have an impact on the battlefield.
Incredible Footage from Ukraine
Back in March, an incredible series of photographs shared on social media shows the moment a Ukrainian soldier fired an American TOW-2B anti-tank missile from atop a military vehicle.
Three photographs show the missile being launched, the moment the missile leaves the turret, and the missile’s wings unfold as it prepares to find its target.
The photographs were shared by Ukraine Weapons Tracker, a popular Ukraine war-tracking Twitter account.
According to the account, the photographs show a M41A7 TOW HMMWV-mounted Improved Target Acquisition System (ITAS) which can be used to make TOW strikes more precise.
The ITAS allows soldiers to reach targets from a longer distance.
It is used for reconnaissance purposes, surveillance, and target acquisition.
“Photos of a Ukrainian soldier firing from a M41A7 TOW HMMWV-mounted ITAS- which allow us to confirm one of the TOW types supplied by the US to Ukraine. We see a TOW-2B-series missile- a very capable top-attack variant, able to destroy almost any Russian vehicle,” Ukraine Weapons Tracker writes.
#Ukraine: Photos of a Ukrainian soldier firing from a M41A7 TOW HMMWV-mounted ITAS- which allow us to confirm one of the TOW types supplied by the US to Ukraine.
We see a TOW-2B-series missile- a very capable top-attack variant, able to destroy almost any Russian vehicle. pic.twitter.com/QLbtHcXALI
— ???????? Ukraine Weapons Tracker (@UAWeapons) March 20, 2023
The term “HMMWV” refers to the High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle that the missile and launcher is typically mounted to, along with the ITAS launcher.
An additional post also shows the damage caused by TOW-2B missiles.
“Here are a few stills from testing the TOW-2B- you can see the effect on target,” the post reads.
Three images show a TOW missile about to hit the vehicle, the explosion that occurs upon impact, and the tank’s turret being completely blown off.
Here are a few stills from testing the TOW-2B- you can see the effect on target. pic.twitter.com/Wr8cjzIF8S
— ???????? Ukraine Weapons Tracker (@UAWeapons) March 20, 2023
What Is the TOW Missile?
TOW, which stands for “Tube-launched, Optically-tracked, Wire-guided,” is an American long-range anti-tank missile that consists of both a missile and a launcher. The missile itself measures six inches in diameter and is 49 inches long.
The missile launcher is designed to automatically steer the missile along the line-of-sight.
The TOW 2B Aero variant of the missile is the most advanced version available today.
The missile can strike targets from a distance of 4,500 meters.
Once the missile comes close to its target, the TOW 2B Aero uses a laser profilometer and magnetic sensors to detect the target beneath it, allowing the missile to turn, point downwards, and directly strike the vehicle or other piece of military hardware from above.
TOW 2B missiles are typically used against bunkers, tanks, urban structures, and field fortifications.
Jack Buckby is 19FortyFive’s Breaking News Editor. He is a British author, counter-extremism researcher, and journalist based in New York. Reporting on the U.K., Europe, and the U.S., he works to analyze and understand left-wing and right-wing radicalization, and reports on Western governments’ approaches to the pressing issues of today. His books and research papers explore these themes and propose pragmatic solutions to our increasingly polarized society.
