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Think Defence @thinkdefence.bsky.social · 17h

Read more about Swingfire at the link

www.thinkdefence.co.uk/2024/10/swin...

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Think Defence @thinkdefence.bsky.social · 17h

A helicopter launched version called Hawkswing was also developed, although not introduced.

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Think Defence @thinkdefence.bsky.social · 17h

There was a proposal for a tank launched Swingfire and even an armed Stalwart.

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Think Defence @thinkdefence.bsky.social · 17h

Swingfire was fitted to FV712 Ferret Mk5

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Think Defence @thinkdefence.bsky.social · 17h

The CVR(T) family of vehicles included the FV102 Striker, equipped with 5 launch canisters.

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Think Defence @thinkdefence.bsky.social · 17h

Two missiles could be ripple fired from the FV438, simultaneously, automatically and independently guided to hit two separate targets. The launcher could be reloaded from inside. The FV438 vehicles were operated by the Royal Artillery.

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Think Defence @thinkdefence.bsky.social · 17h

A modified FV432, designated FV438, had a non-traversable turret and two launchers, with 14 missiles and crew under armour.

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Think Defence @thinkdefence.bsky.social · 17h

A lighter version of Golfswing was designed and tested, but not introduced.

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Think Defence @thinkdefence.bsky.social · 17h

Golfswing was a lightweight trailer mounted version, with four missile canisters.

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Think Defence @thinkdefence.bsky.social · 17h

A simplified launcher was shown on several vehicles, including the Rayner Saboteur Trooper and Supacat ATMP.

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Think Defence @thinkdefence.bsky.social · 17h

Swingfire was designed for ease of integration and platform independence. A four round palletised launcher was developed that could be mounted on light vehicles, called Beeswing, or Swingfire Pallet.

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Think Defence @thinkdefence.bsky.social · 17h

Combined with the immediate direction change after launch, the Swingfire launcher could be extremely difficult to locate, increasing survivability enormously when compared to comparative systems.

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Think Defence @thinkdefence.bsky.social · 17h

Another standout feature of the Swingfire was its use of a remote sighting unit. This allowed the launch vehicle to take a concealed or hull-down position. The remote sight could be positioned up to 100 meters away horizontally and 23 meters higher or lower.

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Think Defence @thinkdefence.bsky.social · 17h

Swingfire got its name from a distinctive feature. Once launched, the missile could quickly change direction by 90 degrees using a 'jetivator'. This allowed the firing position to remain hidden, it could, quite literally, fly out of a barn door, and then do a 90-degree turn

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Think Defence @thinkdefence.bsky.social · 17h

Swingfire was quite advanced at the time. The shaped charge warhead weighed in at 7 kg alone and could be used against targets from 150m to 4,000m and at up to 70 degrees angle of attack, with a maximum range of 4,000m.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=1cmX...

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Think Defence @thinkdefence.bsky.social · 17h

Approximately 46,650 Swingfire missiles were produced. Swingfire saw service in the 1991 Gulf War and the 2003 Iraq conflict, its swan song.

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Think Defence @thinkdefence.bsky.social · 17h

Alongside SWIG, the Defence Research Agency (DRA) also worked on a project called FOLLAM between 1988 and 1993. FOLLAM stood for Fibre Optically Linked Long-range Adaptable Missile.

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Think Defence @thinkdefence.bsky.social · 17h

The MoD awarded a £35m five-year contract to British Aerospace in 1990 to upgrade the Swingfire wire-guided anti-tank missile system. It was called the Swingfire Improved Guidance (SWIG) programme. Most notably, it would also change the guidance from command to automatic command.

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Think Defence @thinkdefence.bsky.social · 17h

Development and testing progressed through to 1969, when Swingfire was formally accepted into service. In 1980, a thermal sighting system was introduced, with orders placed in 1984.

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Think Defence @thinkdefence.bsky.social · 17h

After Orange William was cancelled in 1959, industry continued to develop similar concepts, culminating in Swingfire. It was first mentioned by the government in 1962 as a replacement for the Malkara missile (even though engineering work started in 1960)

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Think Defence @thinkdefence.bsky.social · 17h

Swingfire was a British wire-guided 4 km range anti-tank missile developed in the 1960s, seeing action in multiple theatres and only leaving service in 2003.

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Think Defence @thinkdefence.bsky.social · 17h

Let's discuss…

The Swingfire ATGW

𝗧𝗛𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗗

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Think Defence @thinkdefence.bsky.social · 2d

As the British Army will eventually introduce Boxer RCH155, an article that looks at options of, instead, doubling down on Archer

www.thinkdefence.co.uk/2024/11/doub...

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Think Defence @thinkdefence.bsky.social · 3d

A 16 part series of posts that explores many aspects of field defences, from vehicle ditches to counter UAS nets

Start at Part 16, the summary

www.thinkdefence.co.uk/2025/01/fiel...

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Think Defence @thinkdefence.bsky.social · 4d

A brief series of posts that examines options for restoring mobility to long-range ground launched precision weapons

Pocket Rockets — Requirements and Challenges - Think Defence

A short series that examines options for restoring mobility to long-range ground launched precision weapons such as GMLRS and NMS

www.thinkdefence.co.uk

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