In top-attack mode, what is the altitude of the FGM-148 Javelin?

In top-attack mode, what is the altitude of the FGM-148 Javelin?

• A. 190 ft in top-attack mode
• B. 350 ft in top-attack mode
• C. 500 ft in top-attack mode
• D. 700 ft in top-attack mode

Answer: (C)

Top-attack mode is designed to hit a tank from above, where armor is thinner and more vulnerable. To achieve this, the Javelin climbs to a lofted path and reaches about 500 feet above the target, then dives onto the top surface. That 500-foot altitude is chosen because it provides a favorable angle for striking the top armor while keeping the missile on a guided, controllable path from launch to impact. If the altitude were much lower, the attack angle wouldn’t be truly top-down; if it were much higher, flight time increases and guidance accuracy can suffer. So, 500 feet in top-attack mode best matches the intended approach geometry and effectiveness of the strike. Lower altitudes (like 190 or 350 feet) don’t deliver the top-down angle the mode seeks, while a much higher altitude (700 feet) would hamper accuracy and response time.

Top-attack mode is designed to hit a tank from above, where armor is thinner and more vulnerable. To achieve this, the Javelin climbs to a lofted path and reaches about 500 feet above the target, then dives onto the top surface. That 500-foot altitude is chosen because it provides a favorable angle for striking the top armor while keeping the missile on a guided, controllable path from launch to impact. If the altitude were much lower, the attack angle wouldn’t be truly top-down; if it were much higher, flight time increases and guidance accuracy can suffer.

So, 500 feet in top-attack mode best matches the intended approach geometry and effectiveness of the strike. Lower altitudes (like 190 or 350 feet) don’t deliver the top-down angle the mode seeks, while a much higher altitude (700 feet) would hamper accuracy and response time.