Missile LAW-80

The LAW 80, designated LAW 94 in British service, originated in the United Kingdom as a man-portable, disposable anti-tank system. It entered service in 1987 to replace existing recoilless rifles and light anti-tank rockets. Production of the system continued through 1993.

The weapon consists of an extendable launch tube equipped with a telescopic sight and an integrated spotting rifle. The spotting rifle uses rounds ballistically matched to the main rocket, utilizing tracer bullets and a primer-actuated breech system. The main projectile carries a HEAT shaped charge warhead triggered by a piezo-electric impact fuze. The warhead penetrates rolled homogeneous armour, though its performance is reduced by composite, sloped, or reactive armour types. The rocket motor completes its burn before exiting the launcher, directing the resulting blast rearward. The projectile arms itself after traveling a set distance from the operator. A variant known as the Addermine utilizes the system as an anti-armour off-route mine, which can be triggered by acoustic sensors, laser optical links, or remote command.

The system was used by the British Army, Royal Marines, and RAF Regiment. It was deployed during the Cold War and the War on Terror. The weapon was exported to several countries, including Botswana, Jordan, and Sierra Leone. The United Kingdom eventually withdrew the system from service on safety grounds, replacing it with the AT-4 CS, FGM-148 Javelin, and NLAW.