The Euromissile HOT system (Haut subsonique Optlquement teleguide tire d'un Tube) was jointly developed by Aerospatiale and the then Messerschmidt-Bolkow-Blohm from 1964 onwards and spin-stabilised wire-guided tube-launched Anti-Tank Guided Weapon (ATGW) with a 150 mm calibre warhead (HOT-2) for use from ground, vehicle or helicopter mounts.

The guidance used is of the Semi-Automatic Command to Line Of Sight (SACLOS) type with an infrared tracking system. All the gunner has to do is to keep In 1993, the improved HOT-3 (previously called the HOT-2T) version entered service with a warhead optimised for use against more modern armour packages. The warhead is 0.5 kg heavier than the HOT-2 warhead.

A multipurpose warhead is also available, the HOT-2MP. This can penetrate up to 500 mm of armour steel spheres following detonation because of the arrangement of the steel spheres around the edges of the hollow charge. The HOT-2 MP also has an incendiary effect because of a chemical compound around the front of the hollow charge. The 5 to 6 mm preformed splinters are effective out to a distance of 20 to 30 m from the detonation point.

The HOT-3 has a tandem High Explosive Anti-Tank (HEAT) charge system for use against reactive armour packages. When launched from helicopters the HOT-3 maximum range can reach 4,300 m. At a constant speed of 240 m/s the HOT-3 flight times are 9 seconds to 2,000 m; 13 seconds to 3,000 m; and 17.3 seconds to 4,000 m.

HOT has seen combat service with the French Army in Chad, the Cameroon Air Force during the 1984 coup attempt in that country, the Syrian Air Force in Lebanon during the 1982 Peace for Galilee War, the Moroccan Air Force in the Sahara conflict, with the Iraqi Army and Air Force in its war with Iran and in the 1991 Gulf War (used by Kuwait, Iraq, France, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates).

By 1998, over 85,000 missiles had been ordered together with 860 vehicle and 720 helicopter launcher systems by 19 countries.

An upgrade available for HOT launcher systems is the replacement of the present analogue guidance electronics with digital circuitry. This reduces the overall system weight and improves the reliability factor.

In 1992, the vehicle-mounted Mephisto and the helicopter-mounted Viviane launcher systems were improved by the adoption of an infra-red tracker unit operating in the 1 urn wavelength band to increase resistance to optical countermeasures. Together with the 10 u.m band thermal imager, the localisation unit will operate in a bispectral mode.

The HOT/ATLAS firing post has been developed as a private venture and allows the system to be fitted onto lightweight vehicles such as the Land Rover. This version fires the standard HOT missile and has been adopted by Morocco.

ATLAS stands for Affut de Tir Leger Au Sol and Morocco is the only known user so far.

d integration of a new weapon system called HOT/ ATM which on the same platform combines advanced observation, communication and firing capabilities. In the designation HOT/ATM, the latter stands for Advanced Turret Modular.

The HOT/ATM system has been developed to meet the requirements of the French and German armies for a system capable of being installed on light tracked and wheeled armoured vehicles which can carry out advanced observation, as well as engaging targets with HOT ATGW out to a maximum range of 4,000 m.

The turret is fitted with a mast-mounted stabilised sensor pod which features a TV camera, thermal camera, eye-safe laser range-finder and the missile guidance sensor.

The sensor pod can be used for observation, detection, localisation, display, automatic target tracking and missile tracking.

The monitoring and display module is fitted inside the vehicle and allows the operator to carry out battlefield surveillance, accurate target localisation on a digital terrain map, automatic target tracking, target selection prior to engagement and HOT missile launching with a very short reaction time.

The turret is unmanned with the operator being seated in the vehicle. Mounted either side of the turret are one or two HOT ATGW's in the ready to launch position.

In addition, the HOT/ATM can exchange surveillance and firing data with neighbouring systems, as well as upper level C4 RISTA systems.

The HOT/ATM system can be fitted onto a wide range of tracked and wheeled vehicles such as the French Panhard VBL (4 x 4), German MaK Wiesel light air-portable armoured vehicle and the US AM General HMMWV (4 x 4).

Status

In production. In service with 19 countries including Cameroon, China, Cyprus, Ecuador, Egypt, France, Gabon, Germany, Iraq, Kuwait, Lebanon, Morocco, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Syria and the United Arab Emirates.

Tracked AMX-10P (four-tube Lancelot 1 turret - Saudi Arabian Army)

Tracked Jaguar 1 (single-tube automatic recharge launcher - 225 with German Army and 90 with Australian Army 8x8 MOWAG Piranha (four-tube Lancelot 3 turret - 98

with Saudi Arabian MODA)

6x6 Panhard VCR/TH (four-tube UTM 800 turret -100

with Iraqi Army; many of these were lost during the 1991 Gulf War)

6x6 VAB-VCAC (four-tube UTM 800 turret - 24 with Qatari Army and 18 with Cyprus National Guard)

4x4 VAB-VCAC (four-tube Mephisto turret - 135 delivered to French Army).