Infantry Weapons

Toophan anti-tank guided missile

Also known as
  • Toofan
  • Toophan
  • Toophan ATGM
  • Toofan ATGM
  • TOW-derived Iranian ATGM

The Toophan is an Iranian anti-tank guided missile family derived from the BGM-71 TOW, with wire-guided baseline models and later top-attack, thermobaric, and laser-guided branches. Public reporting connects Toophan systems to Syrian-government-aligned militias, Iraqi Popular Mobilization Unit forces, Houthi-aligned forces in Yemen, and Hezbollah forces in Lebanon through fielded-system, interdiction, battlefield-recovery, and direct-use evidence.

Toophan anti-tank guided missile, Tube-launched anti-tank guided missile family, Infantry Weapons
Image source: Commons Toophan missile image

Role in Conflicts

2023 Israel-Hezbollah Conflict
Anti-ArmorForce Protection

Alma Research reported Hezbollah guided-missile teams on Israel's northern border using Iranian-supplied Toophan missiles, including an ATGM hit on an Israeli signal tower in October 2023; later reporting documented an Iranian Toophan ATGM system seized from Hezbollah in Lebanon during the ground fighting.

Profile / Specs

Profile

Origin
Iran
Type
Tube-launched anti-tank guided missile family
Service note
Late Cold War design lineage; documented in Syria, Iraq, Yemen, and the Israel-Hezbollah border war
Designer
Iranian reverse-engineering program based on the BGM-71 TOW design lineage
Designed
1980s
Produced
Late 1980s-present
Developed from
BGM-71 TOW

Specifications

Guidance
SACLOS command guidance for most listed MINDEX variants; IranPress describes Toophan 5 as using semi-automatic laser-beam guidance, and Qaem as laser-guided
Launch method
Tube-launched from tripod launchers, armored vehicles, selected helicopter installations, and compatible TOW-style launch equipment
Range
100-3,750 m for Basic Toophan, Toophan 2-M, Toophan 3-M, and Toophan 4; 100-3,500 m for Toophan 5; 150-3,500 m for Toophan 6 and 7; ARES lists Toophan 3 at 3,500 m day / 2,500 m night
Diameter
About 150-153 mm depending on source and variant
Missile weight
About 18.5-23 kg across sourced variants
Warhead
Shaped charge, tandem HEAT, single or twin EFP top-attack, thermobaric, full-caliber thermobaric, or thermobaric-fragmentation depending on variant
Launcher/guidance set
Toophan launcher uses a Missile Guidance Set; MINDEX lists MGS-2 as capable of launching all Toophan versions and gives launcher plus MGS-2 weight as 64 kg
Designation Notes

The Toophan family is an Iranian branch of the BGM-71 TOW design lineage, but the designation set is not a single linear mark sequence. Official MINDEX pages group Basic Toophan with Toophan 3-M, Toophan 2-M with Toophan 5, and Toophan 4/6/7 as thermobaric variants, while ARES treats Qaem as a Toophan-family designation without a direct TOW counterpart.

TOW-derived branch

Basic Toophan, Toophan 2, and Toophan 2-M track the classic anti-armor role with shaped-charge or tandem HEAT warheads.

Top-attack branch

Toophan 3 and 3-M use EFP-style top-attack concepts; ARES and MINDEX differ in detail between Toophan 3 and 3-M.

Thermobaric branch

Toophan 4, 6, and 7 are grouped by MINDEX as thermobaric or thermobaric-fragmentation missiles for bunkers, muster stations, and lower-protection targets.

Variants

Toophan designations mix TOW-derived anti-armor missiles, top-attack models, thermobaric bunker/area-effect variants, and the Qaem anti-helicopter branch. Official MINDEX pages group several later designations by role rather than a simple numeric sequence.

VariantConfigurationDesignation notes
Basic Toophan / Toophan 1Baseline TOW-derived SACLOS anti-armor missile

MINDEX lists Basic Toophan with SACLOS guidance, a shaped-charge warhead, 100-3,750 m range, 18.5 kg missile weight, and Cobra-helicopter firing compatibility; ODIN describes Toophan 1 as the BGM-71A-derived production baseline.

Sources: Basic TOOPHAN and TOOPHAN 3-M, Toophan Iranian Anti-Tank Guided Missile

Toophan 2Tandem-warhead anti-armor variant

IranPress describes Toophan 2 as a two-stage-warhead follow-on built to defeat explosive reactive armor, with 19.1 kg missile weight and the same general targeting and guidance method as the first generation.

Sources: Iran's Toophan anti-tank missile and its different types

Toophan 2-MFull-caliber tandem HEAT variant

MINDEX gives Toophan 2-M a tandem HEAT warhead, 650 mm penetration in ERA, 100-3,750 m range, SACLOS guidance, 21 kg missile weight, and anti-jamming support when used with MGS-2.

Sources: TOOPHAN 2-M and 5

Toophan 3Top-attack anti-armor missile

ARES identifies Toophan 3 as a top-attack member resembling TOW-2B but using a single EFP; displayed specifications listed 3,500 m day range, 2,500 m night range, 150 mm diameter, and 19.1 kg missile weight.

Sources: Iran shows Toophan-3 anti-tank guided weapon at Baghdad arms expo

Toophan 3-MTop-attack twin-EFP variant

MINDEX lists Toophan 3-M as a top-attack missile with two EFP warheads, SACLOS guidance, 100-3,750 m range, 21.5 kg missile weight, and at least 150 mm penetration.

Sources: Basic TOOPHAN and TOOPHAN 3-M

Toophan 4Thermobaric variant

MINDEX describes Toophan 4 as a thermobaric-warhead missile with anti-jamming support, tripod, armored-vehicle, and helicopter launch compatibility, 100-3,750 m range, a 3.5 kg warhead, and 20 kg missile weight.

Sources: TOOPHAN 4, 6, 7

Toophan 5Full-caliber tandem HEAT variant

MINDEX lists Toophan 5 with tandem HEAT warhead, 900 mm penetration, 100-3,500 m range, 23 kg missile weight, and tripod or armored-vehicle launch compatibility; IranPress separately describes laser-beam guidance.

Sources: TOOPHAN 2-M and 5, Iran's Toophan anti-tank missile and its different types

Toophan 6Full-caliber thermobaric bunker/position attack variant

MINDEX describes Toophan 6 as a guided missile for bunkers and muster stations, with full-caliber thermobaric warhead, 150-3,500 m range, 5 kg warhead, and 21 kg missile weight.

Sources: TOOPHAN 4, 6, 7

Toophan 7Thermobaric-fragmentation variant

MINDEX classes Toophan 7 as a guided missile with a full-caliber thermobaric-fragmentation warhead for bunkers and muster stations, while Tasnim described Toofan-7 at its 2019 unveiling as a top-attack missile; the mechanism should be treated as source-dependent.

Sources: TOOPHAN 4, 6, 7, Iran Unveils New Anti-Armor Missiles

Qaem / GhaemRelated anti-helicopter missile branch

ARES treats Qaem as a Toophan-family designation without a direct TOW counterpart, and RFE/RL reported Iran opening a Qaem anti-helicopter missile production line in 2010; it is distinct from the catalog's separate Qaem smart-bomb entry.

Sources: Iran shows Toophan-3 anti-tank guided weapon at Baghdad arms expo, Iran Says It Has Started Production Of Two New Missiles

Timeline

Toophan anti-tank guided missile Key Events

  1. Toophan 1 production reported

    ODIN records Toophan 1 as a BGM-71A TOW copy that began mass production in 1988.

    Sources: Toophan Iranian Anti-Tank Guided Missile

  2. Toophan 2 becomes public

    Army Recognition's family summary says the Toophan 2, derived from the BGM-71C ITOW branch, was publicly shown in 2000.

    Sources: Army Recognition Toofan production line

  3. Toofan-5 and Qaem production announced

    RFE/RL reported Iranian state-media claims that production lines opened for the Toofan-5 anti-armor missile and Qaem anti-helicopter missile.

    Sources: Iran Says It Has Started Production Of Two New Missiles

  4. Toophan 3 shown at Baghdad defense fair

    ARES reported Iran marketing the Toophan 3 top-attack variant during the Baghdad defense exhibition.

    Sources: Iran shows Toophan-3 anti-tank guided weapon at Baghdad arms expo

  5. Laser-guided production line displayed

    Army Recognition reported Iran displaying a laser-guided Toofan anti-armor missile production line.

    Sources: Army Recognition Toofan production line

  6. Toofan-3M and Toofan-7 displayed

    Tasnim reported Toofan-3M and Toofan-7 at an Iranian Armed Forces achievements exhibition, describing both as top-attack missiles using electromagnetic and laser sensors.

    Sources: Iran Unveils New Anti-Armor Missiles

Media

Toophan anti-tank guided missile Images

Toophan anti-tank guided missile, Tube-launched anti-tank guided missile family, Infantry Weapons - view 1
Source: Commons Toophan 5 image
Toophan anti-tank guided missile, Tube-launched anti-tank guided missile family, Infantry Weapons - view 2
Source: Commons Toophan launchers image
Toophan anti-tank guided missile, Tube-launched anti-tank guided missile family, Infantry Weapons - view 3
Source: Commons Toophan Mehr launcher image
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Sources

Toophan Iranian Anti-Tank Guided MissilePublisher: U.S. Army ODIN Worldwide Equipment Guide | Note: Supports Toophan background, role, origin, technical context, BGM-71 TOW lineage, and generic TOW-launcher compatibility. | Accessed: 2026-07-01Iran shows Toophan-3 anti-tank guided weapon at Baghdad arms expoPublisher: Armament Research Services | Note: Supports Toophan family background, TOW-derived design lineage, variant context, representative Toophan-3 specifications, and direct conflict-use context: ARES reported Toophan systems documented in service with pro-government Shi'a militias in Syria and Iraq. | Accessed: 2026-07-01The Escalating Conflict with Hezbollah in SyriaPublisher: Center for Strategic and International Studies | Note: Supports 2011 Syrian Civil War direct-use context: Hezbollah forces in Syria had amassed Toophan anti-tank missiles among weapons and systems used in support of operations in Syria. | Accessed: 2026-07-01Army Recognition Toofan production linePublisher: Army Recognition | Note: Supports Toophan/Toofan family background, 1988 production and 2000 public-display timing for early variants, manufacturer attribution, launcher/platform context, and the 2018 laser-guided production-line display. | Accessed: 2026-07-01Iraq Turning a Blind EyePublisher: Amnesty International | Note: Supports 2013 War in Iraq direct-use context: ARES analysis for Amnesty documented Toophan anti-tank guided weapons deployed by Popular Mobilization Unit militias during the conflict against Islamic State. | Accessed: 2026-07-01Alma Hezbollah Toophan northern borderPublisher: Alma Research and Education Center | Note: Supports 2023 Israel-Hezbollah Conflict direct-use context: Hezbollah guided-missile teams attacking Israel's northern border used Iranian-supplied Toophan missiles, including an ATGM hit on an Israeli signal tower in October 2023. | Accessed: 2026-07-01Long War Journal Hezbollah Toophan seizurePublisher: FDD's Long War Journal | Note: Supports 2023 Israel-Hezbollah Conflict direct-use context: an Iranian Toophan anti-tank guided missile system was displayed after being seized from Hezbollah in Lebanon during the fighting. | Accessed: 2026-07-01Jerusalem Post Hezbollah seized weapons analysisPublisher: The Jerusalem Post | Note: Supports 2023 Israel-Hezbollah Conflict direct-use context: Hezbollah acquired the Iranian Toophan tripod-mounted ATGM system among anti-tank weapons seized by Israeli forces in Lebanon. | Accessed: 2026-07-01Basic TOOPHAN and TOOPHAN 3-MPublisher: MINDEX Center / Iran Ministry of Defence Export Center | Note: Supports Basic Toophan and Toophan 3-M guidance, range, warhead, weights, dimensions, firing-rate data, and Cobra-helicopter launch claim. | Accessed: 2026-07-01TOOPHAN 2-M and 5Publisher: MINDEX Center / Iran Ministry of Defence Export Center | Note: Supports Toophan 2-M and Toophan 5 tandem HEAT warhead, range, guidance, penetration, weight, dimensions, and launch-platform claims. | Accessed: 2026-07-01TOOPHAN 4, 6, 7Publisher: MINDEX Center / Iran Ministry of Defence Export Center | Note: Supports Toophan 4, 6, and 7 thermobaric or thermobaric-fragmentation variant descriptions and specifications. | Accessed: 2026-07-01TOOPHAN LauncherPublisher: MINDEX Center / Iran Ministry of Defence Export Center | Note: Supports launcher and Missile Guidance Set context, including MGS-2 compatibility with all Toophan versions and launcher plus MGS-2 weight. | Accessed: 2026-07-01Iran's Toophan anti-tank missile and its different typesPublisher: Iran Press | Note: Supports variant distinctions for Toophan 2 through 7, including Toophan 5 laser-beam guidance claim and variant-specific weights, ranges, and warhead descriptions. | Accessed: 2026-07-01Iran Says It Has Started Production Of Two New MissilesPublisher: Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty | Note: Supports the February 2010 production-line announcement for Toofan-5 and Qaem, including two-warhead Toofan-5 and laser-guided Qaem descriptions. | Accessed: 2026-07-01Iran Unveils New Anti-Armor MissilesPublisher: Tasnim News Agency | Note: Supports the 2019 display of Toofan-3M and Toofan-7 and Tasnim's top-attack description. | Accessed: 2026-07-01The Missile War in YemenPublisher: Center for Strategic and International Studies | Note: Supports 2014 Yemen Civil War direct-use context: Toophan/TOW ATGMs were supplied to or intercepted en route to Houthi-aligned forces, and a Toophan ATGM seized by Saudi Arabia was presented as evidence of military support to the Houthis. | Accessed: 2026-06-20DoD Shows Iranian Weapons as Proof of Tehran's Duplicitous AmbitionsPublisher: Defense Visual Information Distribution Service | Note: Supports 2014 Yemen Civil War direct-use context: U.S. officials said an Iranian-made Toophan obtained by Saudi Arabia on the battlefield was used by Houthis in Yemen against vehicles and infrastructure. | Accessed: 2026-06-20Commons Toophan missile imagePublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports image provenance for the primary image: a public-domain U.S. Defense Department photograph of a Toophan missile at the Iranian Materiel Display. | Accessed: 2026-06-20Commons Toophan 5 imagePublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports image provenance and CC BY 4.0 licensing for the Toophan 5 gallery image. | Accessed: 2026-06-20Commons Toophan launchers imagePublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports image provenance and CC BY 4.0 licensing for the Toophan launcher gallery image. | Accessed: 2026-06-20Commons Toophan Mehr launcher imagePublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports image provenance and CC BY 4.0 licensing for the Toophan launcher sight gallery image. | Accessed: 2026-06-20