Wireguided

Wireguided describes a class of guided munitions in which guidance commands are transmitted through a physical tether — a trailing wire — from the launcher to the moving weapon. The tether enables real-time control of the weapon’s flight path, typically within a command-to-line-of-sight framework. This guidance method relies on an onboard autopilot and control surfaces that respond to the commands sent through the wire. Because the control link is a physical connection, wireguided systems are generally less susceptible to radio-frequency jamming and interception than radio-guided systems. The term is often encountered in anti-tank missiles and some torpedoes and other tactical ordnance.

Operation typically involves a launcher that spools out the guidance wire as the missile or torpedo departs. A guidance controller on the launcher and an autopilot in the projectile exchange commands via the wire to deflect fins or adjust thrust, producing a guided trajectory toward the target. In most systems the operator keeps the target in sight and makes corrections to ensure a hit. If the wire or the guidance link is severed or entangled, guidance is lost, ending the engagement.

Historical use and notable examples include widespread adoption in the 1960s–1980s for anti-tank missiles. Notable systems include the Soviet 9K11 Malyutka (AT-2) family, the American BGM-71 TOW (Tube-launched, Optically tracked, Wire-guided), and the French SS.11. These systems offered high accuracy at modest ranges with relatively simple, robust hardware, albeit with range limitations and vulnerability to wire damage.

Decline and legacy: with the rise of fire-and-forget and more autonomous guidance methods, wireguided missiles have been largely superseded for new designs. They remain in limited service where ruggedness, simplicity, or cost factors favor wired command guidance, or in legacy configurations where electromagnetic spectrum constraints apply.