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INFANTRY WEAPONS National Weapons  Weapons Manufacturers Types of Weapons
ERYX
 
ERYX
Country France
Type Anti-tank guided missile
Manufacturer MBDA
Introduction 1989
Specifications
Weight 10.2 kg (13 kg with launcher, Firing post weight 4.5 kg)
Length 0.905 m
Diameter 0.136 m
Warhead 137 mm diameter 3.6 kg tandem HEAT (penetrating 0.9 m through RHA behind reactive armour, or 2.5 m through concrete)
Operational
range
50–600 m
Speed 18 m/s (65 km/h) at launch to 245 m/s (880 km/h) at 600 m
Guidance
system
SACLOS wire
Launch
platform
Individual, Vehicle

ERYX is a short-range portable SACLOS-based wire-guided anti-tank guided missile (ATGM) produced by European company MBDA. It is used by several countries, including the Canadian Forces, French, and Norwegian armies. The weapon can also be used against bunkers and pillboxes. It also has some capability in the anti aircraft role to bring down low flying helicopters, due to its wire guided system.

The missile uses a low-speed \"soft launch\" that enables it to be fired from confined spaces. This enables it to be used effectively in an urban setting. The missile is then accelerated by a sustainer motor to its maximum speed of 245 meters per second at 600 meters, which it reaches in 4.3 seconds. The missile\'s initial low speed is controlled by use of thrust vectoring; the missile has two exhausts around the mid section which fire as the missile rotates.

The missile uses SACLOS guidance, the launcher tracks a light source on the rear of the missile and compares its position with the centre of the launcher\'s cross-hair, sending corrective signals down a trailing control wire. The missile increases resistance to jamming by pulsing the light source on the rear of the missile.

The missile uses two \"tandem\" warheads in order to defeat reactive armour; a small warhead at the front of the missile and a larger warhead at the rear.

According to MBDA claims the missile has achieved a hit rate of 95%, based on 1,000 test firings.