Afghanistan

MILAN missile systems were among the numerous weapons sent to the Mujahideen in Afghanistan in the 1980s by the United States to combat Soviet troops.^[9] The MILAN had a devastating effect on Soviet armor, having a similar effect on tanks and armored personnel carriers as Stinger missiles had had on Soviet helicopters.^[10] In 2010, French troops killed four Afghan civilians in Kapisa Province using a MILAN system during a firefight.^[11]

Chadian–Libyan conflict

MILAN missiles provided by the French government saw common usage during the war between Chad and Libya where they were used by Chadian forces. Often mounted on Toyota pickup trucks, the missiles successfully engaged Libyan armour in the Aouzou Strip including T-55 tanks.^[12]

Falklands War

In 1982, the ruling military junta in Argentina launched the invasion of the UK overseas territory of the Falkland Islands, leading to the Falklands War. British forces used MILAN, along with the M72 LAW and Carl Gustaf, in a 'bunker buster' role. The MILAN saw use in the battles for Goose Green, Mount Longdon, Two Sisters and Wireless Ridge.^[13]

Gulf War

MILAN was used by both coalition and Iraqi forces during the Persian Gulf War, with a MILAN launcher operated by French forces claiming to have destroyed seven T-55 tanks.^[14] Iraqi operated MILAN missiles were supplied by the French government during the 1980s and were used by Iraqi forces during both Gulf Wars.

Syria

Syria ordered about 200 launchers and 4,000 missiles in 1977 which were delivered in 1978-1979 and used by the Syrians during the Lebanese Civil War. The Syrian army used Milan missiles against Israeli tanks in Lebanon in 1982.^[15] The missiles were in service during the Syrian Civil War, fielded by the Republican Guard.^[16] Syrian rebels captured some in depots, as did ISIL. The Kurdish YPG also used Milans supplied by the international coalition.^[15]

Syrian Milan team in Lebanon, 1982.

In 2015, Germany supplied the Peshmerga with 30 MILAN launchers and over 500 missiles.^[17][18] Those missiles were mostly used against ISIS forces, but on 20 October during the 2017 Iraqi–Kurdish conflict, Kurdish forces destroyed an Iraqi M1 Abrams tank and several Humvees using the MILANs.^[19]

South Africa

The first Milan version was delivered to the Special Forces and the antitank platoons in the late 1970s and 1980s at a scale of six launchers per platoon. Each platoon was organised into three antitank sections, with two ATGM launchers and two M40A1 106mm recoilless guns or two rocket launchers.

Six SADF Milan teams were deployed by the Special Forces in support of the Angolan UNITA guerrillas, in the Cazombo Salient in 1985 during Operation Wallpaper.

Russian invasion of Ukraine

France has sent MILAN missiles to Ukraine during the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.^[20] There have been unconfirmed footage of it being used by the Ukrainian military on Russian targets.^[21] Russian forces have also been seen using captured MILANs^[22]

Current operators

MILAN missiles

A Bundeswehr Marder infantry fighting vehicle firing.

2007.

German Army missile equipped with AGDUS combat simulator.

Vehicle mounted launcher and missiles in Egyptian service during Operation Desert Shield.

Strike on training target, 2001.

•  Afghanistan – Afghan National Army:^[23] 271
•  Algeria – Algerian People's National Army:^[23] 340
•  Bahrain - Royal Bahraini Army: mounted on 5 AIFV-B-Milan vehicles:^[23] 343
•  Bosnia and Herzegovina - Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina:^[23] 90
•  Botswana - Botswana Defence Force^[24]
•  Brazil – Brazilian Army:^[23] 406
•  Burundi - Burundi Army (reported):^[23] 465
•  Cameroon - Cameroon Army:^[23] 466
•  Chad – Chadian Ground Forces:^[23] 469 mounted on light vehicles^[25][26]
•  Cyprus – Cypriot National Guard:^[23] 95
•  Egypt – Egyptian Army:^[23] 345
•  France – French Army: Infantry and vehicle-mounted weapon.:^[23] 105 Will be replaced by Missile Moyenne Portée (MMP) from 2017.^[27]
•  Gabon - Gabon Army:^[23] 478
•  Germany – Bundeswehr:^[23] 109
•  Greece – Hellenic Army:^[23] 112
•  India – Indian Army:^[23] 23,500 missiles^[28] MILAN-2 (some or all built under license by Bharat Dynamics), and MILAN-2T^[29]
•  Indonesia - Indonesian Army:^[23] 276
•  Iraq – Iraqi Army
•  Kurdistan – Peshmerga: 30 launchers and 500 missiles, delivery in two portions was announced on 31 August 2014 by German Bundeswehr. These are 1980s Milan 2 replaced by later models but still in storage.^[30][31] Used by the Kurds to stop ISIL vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices (VBIEDs).^[32]
•  Italy – Italian Army Total of 714 launchers with 17,163 missile delivered in 1990. 807 MILAN 2T ordered in 2004 and delivered in 2005 (SIPRI).^[33]
•  Jordan - mounted on 45 AIFV-B-Milan vehicles:^[23] 358
•  Kenya – Kenyan Army:^[23] 483
•  Lebanon – Lebanese Army:^[23] 362
•  Libya – Libyan National Army: 1,000 MILAN-3 exported between 2008 and 2011,^[34] 400 systems in 2011.
•  North Macedonia – Army of the Republic of Macedonia:^[23] 126
•  Mauritania – Mauritanian Army:^[23] 365
•  Mexico – Mexican Army: mounted on 8 Panhard VBL scout cars:^[23] 427
•  Morocco – Royal Moroccan Army:^[23] 367
•  Oman - Royal Army of Oman and Royal Household:^[23] 370
•  Portugal – Portuguese Army; Portuguese Marines:^[23] 137
• PKK:^[35]
•  Saudi Arabia - Saudi Arabian Army:^[23] 373
•  Senegal - Senegalese Army:^[23] 496
•  Singapore - Singapore Army:^[23] 307
•  South Africa – South African Army: 375 missiles.^{[36][37][38][39][40]}
•  Syria – Syrian Army:^[23] 377
  • Free Syrian Army: Some captured.^[41]
  • YPG^[15]
  •  Islamic State^[15]
•  Tunisia – Tunisian Armed Forces: 120 missiles.^[36]
•  Turkey – Turkish Army:^[23] 154
•  Ukraine: some donated by France to support the Ukrainian army in war against Russia.^[42]
•  United Arab Emirates:^[23] 381
•  Uruguay – Uruguayan Army:^[23] 438
•  Yemen – Yemeni Armed forces

Former operators

•  Australia – Australian Army: Was used by infantry and mounted on vehicles. The Australian Army withdrew the MILAN from service in the early 1990s. The ADF now fields the FGM-148 Javelin system.
•  Belgium – Belgian Army: Infantry weapon; replaced by Spike-LR in 2014^[43]
•  Estonia – Estonian Defence Forces^[44]
•  Ireland – Irish Army: Infantry weapon; replaced by the FGM-148 Javelin.
•  Qatar^[45]
•  Somalia - imported in 1978-1979^[46]
•  Spain – Spanish Army^[47]
• UNITA: 150 missiles.^[36]
•  United Kingdom – British Army; Royal Marines – While primarily an infantry weapon, it was also used in the FV120 Spartan MCT turret. Over 50,000 missiles were purchased for use in the British Armed Forces. The MILAN was deployed against Argentine bunkers in the Falklands conflict^[48] and later against T-55s during the Persian Gulf War.^[49] It was replaced by the FGM-148 Javelin in mid-2005. Previously made under licence by British Aerospace Dynamics.^[50]