HOT
The HOT (French: Haut subsonique Optiquement Téléguidé Tiré d’un Tube, or High Subsonic, Optical, Remote-Guided, Tube-Launched) is a second-generation long-range anti-tank missile system. It was originally developed to replace the older SS.11 wire guided missile in French and West German service. The design was a collaboration between the German firm Bölkow and the French firm Nord. Bölkow and Nord later merged into MBB and Aérospatiale respectively, both of which then formed Euromissile to design and produce the MILAN, Roland and HOT. This ultimately became part of MBDA.
France developed a variant of the AMX-10P that substituted an armored four-tube HOT missile launcher called the Lancelot for the vehicle’s regular 20mm cannon turret. The Lancelot turret carriers 20 HOT missiles—4 mounted and 16 stored inside—and uses a sight with X12 magnification as well as a laser rangefinder. The only known customer is Saudi Arabia.
Shortly after the introduction of HOT by Germany and France on ground vehicles, both nations introduced helicopters in the dedicated antitank role firing the HOT. The French used the Gazelle SA342 helicopter, which carries four HOT missiles in two dual launchers. Germany opted for the Bo-105 PAH-1, which is capable of carrying six HOT missiles in two triple launchers. Subsequently, the HOT missile was qualified for launch from other helicopters, such as the German Tiger helicopter (carrying up to eight HOT’s in two quad launchers) and the South African Rooivalk helicopter.
Specifications
Country: France/West Germany
In service: 1977—
Length: 1.30 m
Wingspan: 0.31 m
Diameter: 0.15 m
Engine: two-stage solid fuel rocket
Maximum speed: 864 km/h (240 m/s)
Range: 4,300 m
Weight: 24.5 kg
