Military personnel of the combined arms army of the Eastern Military District (VVO) fired from portable anti-tank systems (ATGM) "Metis".

This was reported on the website of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation.

The training took place as part of an intensive combat training course under the guidance of instructor officers who took part in the special operation.

“According to the conditions of the exercise, the personnel had to fire from the anti-tank systems at the observed fixed targets imitating the armored vehicles of a potential enemy at distances from 600 to 2000 m,” the Russian Defense Ministry said.

Also, the military personnel of the combined arms army of the Air Defense Forces fulfilled the standards for conducting reconnaissance of targets, the operational change of firing positions and the preparation of anti-tank systems for firing.

In January, the website of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported on the training in the operation and firing of "Metis" mobilized in the Trans-Baikal Territory.

“The use of the Metis anti-tank systems was planned both during fire training exercises and during the development of tactical actions in various types of combat training operations without preparing firing positions,” the military department’s materials noted.

Compact and powerful

"Metis" was developed in the second half of the 1970s by the team of the Instrument Design Bureau (Tula) under the guidance of the well-known domestic gunsmith Arkady Shipunov.

At the time of its creation, the complex had no analogues in the world.

Its main feature was extremely modest weight and size characteristics compared to other ATGMs.

For example, the mass of an anti-tank missile in a transport and launch container was 6.36 kg, the length of the container was less than 80 cm. Soldiers could fire from the complex from a prone position, from a standing trench, and also from the shoulder.

  • Launcher ATGM "Metis"

  • © Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation

"Metis" ensured the defeat of military equipment with an armor thickness of up to 550 mm at ranges from 40 to 1000 m. In terms of its combat properties, the Soviet ATGM was not inferior to the American counterpart Dragon with an almost twice as heavy missile.

The miniaturization of the complex required the simplification of onboard equipment and a noticeable reduction in the range of targets.

Nevertheless, the designers of the Instrument Design Bureau constantly improved their offspring.

The modern modification of the ATGM is the Metis-M1, which has been supplied to the troops in recent years.

Previously, these weapons were exported.

In Russia, it was considered too lightweight to withstand modern armored vehicles.

However, based on the results of the analysis of the combat use of anti-tank systems in the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation, they came to the conclusion that the complex is an effective and multifunctional weapon.

According to the military department of the Russian Federation, "Metis-M1" is designed to destroy visually visible tanks and other armored targets moving at a speed of up to 60 km / h.

The calculation of the ATGM is two people, the total mass of the rocket in the container is 13.8 kg, the firing range is from 80 to 2000 m, the rate of fire is one or two shots per minute.

According to the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation, the missiles of the complex are capable of penetrating armor with a thickness of 850 mm.

At the same time, the materials of Rosoboronexport say that the armor penetration rate can exceed 900 mm.

The Metis-M1 arsenal includes two types of 130 mm caliber missiles.

Ammunition with a tandem cumulative warhead under the name 9M131M is adapted to destroy equipment with dynamic protection.

It consists of leading and main charges.

The first removes protection, the second inflicts a direct defeat on the enemy object.

  • Guided missile ATGM "Metis"

  • © Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation

The 9M131FM missile with a thermobaric warhead has a different principle of operation and is more suitable for strikes against engineering fortifications, where firing points and enemy manpower are often located.

Such a charge forms an aerosol cloud of a combustible substance.

After detonation, the fiery mixture is able to “leak” behind any obstacle.

In the Russian army, along with flamethrower systems and MLRS, the Kornet ATGM missiles are equipped with thermobaric warheads.

"Metis-M1" has a semi-automatic control system with the transmission of commands by wire and equipment that ensures firing at a target at any time of the day.

In addition, several years ago, according to Rostec, for this ATGM, the State Institute of Applied Optics (part of the state corporation) developed a thermal imaging sight that allows you to get a "visual image of the observed target and local objects in the infrared range."

As candidate of military sciences Sergey Suvorov explained in an interview with RT, in the course of modernization, Russian designers adapted the Metis to the realities of the modern theater of operations.

In particular, the specialists of the Instrument Design Bureau have significantly increased the range and firepower of the ATGM, while maintaining its traditional advantage - modest weight and size characteristics.

“This is a very worthy and effective weapon.

And the relatively small size and lightness make it possible not to use vehicles.

Military personnel can carry missiles and ATGM equipment over their shoulders.

You need to understand that transport sometimes unmasks, so the rejection of it is necessary to ensure high secrecy of actions, ”Suvorov emphasized.

  • Shooting from ATGM "Metis"

  • © Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation

According to the expert, "Metis-M1" has a relatively short range.

However, as practice shows, most often strikes against armored vehicles from anti-tank systems are delivered within 2 km, the expert says.

“A greater distance is sometimes not required, especially when the use of anti-tank systems occurs in urban areas, in wooded and mountainous areas.

Also, the low range can be compensated by the effective actions of the calculation from an ambush, ”added Suvorov.

Demanded in the NWO zone

The use of ATGM "Metis" in the NVO zone was not officially reported.

However, according to the RF Ministry of Defense, the mobilized are trained in handling these weapons.

According to Sergei Suvorov, the Metis is unpretentious in operation, quickly brought into combat position and very easy to train.

“Such a “pocket artillery” is certainly needed.

Yes, Metis is the second generation of anti-tank systems.

It does not implement the "fire and forget" principle.

The transmission of commands to the rocket takes place over a special wire.

Of course, there are more modern ways to correct a rocket, but they also have their costs.

I don't see anything critical in the wire.

This is a reliable and noise-proof way to transmit commands, ”Suvorov emphasized.

The expert is sure that the modern modification of the Metis is capable of hitting any armored vehicles, including the M1 Abrams, Leopard, Challenger tanks, which Western countries plan to supply to the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Alexander Khrolenko expressed a similar point of view in an interview with RT.

"Metis" with missiles with armor penetration of more than 800 mm can hit all types of armored vehicles, as well as low-flying targets, including helicopters.

This is a fairly serious universal weapon, ”said Khrolenko.

  • Preparation for firing from the ATGM "Metis"

  • © Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation

As the expert noted, in the NMD zone, portable anti-tank systems are indispensable in defensive, offensive and sabotage operations.

“At close range, ATGMs are capable of inflicting very heavy damage on the enemy.

Naturally, this also applies to Western tanks.

With Metis-M1 and other anti-tank systems, our infantry is very dangerous for them, ”concluded Khrolenko.