1. When the trigger is pulled, three batteries are activated that provide power to the electronics, the Xenon or thermal beacon, and the actuator subsystem. When the missile is fired, the launch motor develops initial thrust to accelerate the missile to approximately 250 feet per second when it exits the tube. The wings on the missile extend as it exits the tube and completes the circuit to activate the flight motor about 7 meters from the launcher. The warhead becomes armed between 30 and 65 meters from the launcher. Acceleration provides peak velocity at approximately 350 meters.

2. Upon capture, the TOW missile becomes a closed loop system. The Xenon beacon and thermal beacon ( TOW 2 / TOW 2A ) are installed in the rear of the missiles and are detected by the Xenon detector or thermal tracker located in the telescopic sight unit. Two wire dispensers are mounted on the rear of the missile at the 90 and 270 degree positions. These dispensers contain 3750 meters of single strand wire. Control surface flippers respond to signals from this wire command link. Helium powers the control actuators; the attitude gyro, which limits yaw and roll, is driven by nitrogen.

3. Once the missiles are launched, the I-TOW, TOW 2, and TOW 2A have extensible probes that provide standoff detonation. The TOW 2A also has a small warhead in the probe that detonates the explosives in the tank's reactive armor. The warhead consists of an aluminum shell, an ogive crush switch, a safety device, electrical wiring, and an explosive filler. Impact and detonation of the conical shape filler concentrates the force of the explosive into a hot jet at approximately 25,000 feet per second, which can penetrate more than 17 inches of RHA.

4. At the maximum range, the missile slows to one third of it's peak velocity. The nose high position of the missile at this range may not produce the best impact angle of the warhead. Basic characteristics of the TOW missile family are shown in Table 5-11. Table 5-12 shows the color codes of the encased TOW missiles.

5. The TOW 2 and TOW 2A have an improved propellant in the flight motors, and the guidance links have been hardened with a thermal beacon which improves operations in dust, smoke, and other obscurants. The thermal beacon is compatible with aircraft with the C-NITE system.

6. The TOW 2B is the newest version of the TOW missile. The TOW 2B entered production in late 1991. The TOW 2B was designed to attack targets from the top. The missiles trajectory places the missile slightly above the target when it's two warheads explode downward.

Approximately 30 different TOW missiles are listed in the conventional ammunition substitutability and interchangeability list published by the U.S. Army Armament, Munitions, and Chemical Command, Rock Island, IL 61299-6000.