NLAW (MBT LAW)
WesternNext Generation Light Anti-tank Weapon
NLAW (Next Generation Light Anti-tank Weapon, also known as MBT LAW) is a single-shot, disposable anti-tank weapon co-developed by Sweden's Saab and the UK's Thales. It uses a predicted-line-of-sight (PLOS) guidance system — the operator aims and fires, and the missile automatically flies above the target, then fires a downward explosively formed penetrator into the tank's thin top armor.
Primary Role
Close-range tank destruction by infantry units
First documented use in Ukraine: 2022-02-24
Specifications
| Range | 20–800 m |
| Weight (complete) | 12.5 kg |
| Warhead | HEAT + soft-attack EFP |
| Operation | Single-shot disposable |
| Guidance | PLOS (predicted line of sight) |
| Country | Sweden / UK |
✓ Strengths
- •Very light — can be carried by a single soldier
- •Simple to operate — minimal training required
- •Effective top-attack mode defeats modern tank roof armor
- •Disposable — no need for complex maintenance
⚠ Limitations
- •Maximum range of 800 m limits standoff distance
- •Single-shot and disposable — no reuse
- •Less effective at range compared to Javelin
Notable Use
The UK supplied over 4,000 NLAWs to Ukraine in the days before and immediately after the Russian invasion. Images of Ukrainian soldiers carrying NLAWs became iconic in the early days of the war. They were decisive in close-range tank kills during the Battle of Kyiv.
Ukraine War Context
NLAW was among the first Western weapons supplied to Ukraine (from January 2022). Its light weight and ease of use made it popular with territorial defense units. It is primarily a short-range weapon, complementing the longer-range Javelin.