The Metis-M system adds to the usual positive qualities of a man-portable anti-tank guided missile with significant improvements in range, accuracy and lethality. Owing to the small dimensions and light weight of its components, this manportable system can be carried by its crew in compact packs over any distance and over a wide variety of terrain types, including stream crossing. The three-man crew carries personal weapons and an ammunition load of five missiles. One crew member carries a pack with a missile-loaded launcher, which considerably reduces the time of fire preparation and allows the crew to engage targets whilst moving. In the event of sudden appearance of a target, the operator can fire from the shoulder with the launcher rested against a local object. The two other crew members each carry a pack with two missiles.
Guidance
The Metis-M ATGM system has a semi-automatic missile guidance, with commands transmitted over a wire link. The guidance system is constructed so that the most sophisticated and costly components, such as a gyroscopic coordinator, electronic units and an onboard battery, are excluded from the missile.
Features
changes from the traveling to the firing position—and vice versa—in 15 – 20 seconds;
In November 2015, Russia revealed it was formalizing the introduction of the upgraded Metis-M1 anti-tank missile system. The new version has greater range, more armor penetration of, and reduced weight. It is designed to destroy main battle tanks with Active Protection Systems and Explosive Reactive Armor, light armored vehicles, fortifications, and other targets in day or night and in any weather condition. The system entered service on March 2, 2016.
Combat history
Lebanon
According to accounts by the Israel Defense Forces concerning weapons seized from Hezbollah and from journalists' accounts from Lebanon, the Metis-M was used successfully by Hezbollah fighters during the 2006 Lebanon war against Merkava tanks. Russia released a press statement disputing the claim that it had been supplying modern anti-tank weapons to Hezbollah; the Israelis' original claim, however, was in fact that Russian weapons had been sold to Syria, which in turn smuggled the weapons to Hezbollah. Israel has sent a team of officials to Moscow to show the Russians the evidence of what they say can only be Syrian weapons transfers. To date, Russia has not commented on the weapon proliferation, although it has moved to tighten control over the use of Russian-made weapons by the importing states.
Syria
On 7 March 2012, Free Syrian Army fighters used a 9K115-2 Metis-M anti-tank guided missile to hit a derelict Syrian Air Force MiG-23MS. Later during the Syrian Civil War, its use became widespread. Insurgents used it with great success, together with other ATGMs, against different targets, including tanks, infantry fighting vehicles, trucks and firing posts with many videos uploaded on to the internet. Initially, Metis missiles originated from looted Syrian army depots, while later external suppliers could have been involved. It was confirmed that Bulgaria has sold 6 sets of 9K115-2 Metis via the United States to Syrian rebels.
