Missile 9M14 Malyutka (AT-3 Sagger)

Development of this wire-guided anti-tank missile began in 1961, with the project aiming to create a man-portable and vehicle-mountable system based on contemporary Western designs. Following tests in 1962, the system entered service in 1963.

The missile utilizes Manual Command to Line of Sight (MCLOS) guidance in its initial configuration. Operators control the flight path via a joystick, with commands transmitted through a thin wire that trails behind the missile. The system employs a gyroscope for orientation and maintains flight stability through wing-induced rotation. The missile's flight profile includes an immediate climb after launch to avoid ground obstacles. Later variants introduced Semi-Automatic Command to Line of Sight (SACLOS) guidance for ground vehicle and helicopter mounts, which simplified operator input requirements. Launch platforms include a portable suitcase that doubles as a launching base, armored vehicles such as the BMP-1 and BRDM-2, and various helicopters.

Warhead options evolved to address advancing armor technology. Early models featured standard High-Explosive Anti-Tank (HEAT) warheads. Subsequent developments introduced tandem-charge warheads and standoff probes designed to counter explosive reactive armor. A thermobaric variant was also produced for use against personnel and unarmored targets. Modernized versions have been integrated with thermal imaging systems for target acquisition.

The system is widely deployed and has been manufactured under license or as domestic versions in numerous countries, including China, Iran, North Korea, Serbia, Vietnam, Romania, and Taiwan. In Soviet service, the man-portable version was assigned to anti-tank platoons within motor rifle battalions, often paired with RPG-7 teams to cover the deadzone created by the missile's minimum engagement distance.

Combat use began during the Vietnam War in 1972, where it was employed against M48 Patton tanks and M113 armored vehicles. During the Yom Kippur War, Arab forces utilized the missile to destroy several hundred Israeli armored vehicles, leading to the development of specific artillery and maneuver countermeasures by Israeli forces. The system has been used in numerous regional conflicts, including the Iran-Iraq War, the Lebanese Civil War, and the Gulf War. It remains in service with various state militaries and non-state actors, including Hezbollah and Hamas, and has been documented in recent conflicts in Libya, Syria, Yemen, and Ethiopia.