Which of the following best describes the BGM-71 TOW Missile function?

Which of the following best describes the BGM-71 TOW Missile function?

• A. Tube launched; wire-guided anti-tank missile; capable of penetrating armor 30 inches thick
• B. Air-launched; non-guided; cannot penetrate armor
• C. Self-propelled; guided missile; long-range over 10000 m
• D. Hand-fired; fire-and-forget

Answer: (A)

The key idea here is how this anti-tank missile is launched and guided. The BGM-71 TOW is designed to be fired from a tube and kept under control by a wire-guided system, with a shaped-charge warhead meant to defeat armor. That combination—tube-launched and wire-guided—is what defines its function. It’s not launched from the air, it’s not self-propelled, and it isn’t fired and forgotten; the operator must guide it to the target to ensure a hit. The armor-penetrating capability comes from the warhead designed to defeat heavy armor, which is why the description mentions penetrating thick armor. Other descriptions don’t fit because they claim it’s air-launched and non-guided, or self-propelled and long-range, or hand-fired and fire-and-forget—none of which match how the TOW actually operates.

The key idea here is how this anti-tank missile is launched and guided. The BGM-71 TOW is designed to be fired from a tube and kept under control by a wire-guided system, with a shaped-charge warhead meant to defeat armor.

That combination—tube-launched and wire-guided—is what defines its function. It’s not launched from the air, it’s not self-propelled, and it isn’t fired and forgotten; the operator must guide it to the target to ensure a hit. The armor-penetrating capability comes from the warhead designed to defeat heavy armor, which is why the description mentions penetrating thick armor.

Other descriptions don’t fit because they claim it’s air-launched and non-guided, or self-propelled and long-range, or hand-fired and fire-and-forget—none of which match how the TOW actually operates.