Lesson plan
MAPATS
The MAPATS (man portable anti-tank system, also a Hebrew word for explosion) is a laser guided, beam riding anti-tank guided missile (ATGM) developed by Israel Military Industries as a possible successor to United States' wire-guided missile, BGM-71 TOW. The MAPATS is sometimes nicknamed Hutra (in Hebrew: חוטרא) – an Aramaic word for stick. The MAPATS can operate day or night, while the gunner must direct a laser designator on the target until missile impact. First revealed in 1984, it has no trailing wire, so it can be fired over water at naval targets or from sea to land, unlike wire-guided ATGMs. The launcher has an elevation ability up to +30°. Externally, the MAPATS is very similar in appearance to the TOW 2.
Article summary
The MAPATS (man portable anti-tank system, also a Hebrew word for explosion) is a laser guided, beam riding anti-tank guided missile (ATGM) developed by Israel Military Industries as a possible successor to United States' wire-guided missile, BGM-71 TOW. The MAPATS is sometimes nicknamed Hutra (in Hebrew: חוטרא) – an Aramaic word for stick. The MAPATS can operate day or night, while the gunner must direct a laser designator on the target until missile impact. First revealed in 1984, it has no trailing wire, so it can be fired over water at naval targets or from sea to land, unlike wire-guided ATGMs. The launcher has an elevation ability up to +30°. Externally, the MAPATS is very similar in appearance to the TOW 2.
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Discussion questions
- Summarise the article in your own words. Which single claim would you verify first, and why?
- Which claim in this article is most likely to be revised as the sources update? How would you check its current status?
- If two sources disagreed about one of these facts, what would you need in order to trust one over the other?
Bibliography
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Key claims and bibliography are generated from the same tracked claims and sources as the article page.