Earlier this month, the U.S. military conducted a training exercise, during which a mysterious guided missile designated "670" was launched from the TOW ATGM launcher mounted on a Bradley infantry fighting vehicle.
While the U.S. Army has not disclosed details about this missile, it has released a clear image of it, prompting analysis from defense media, including The War Zone.
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The authors note that they are working to determine the exact nature of "670," but initial assessments suggest it is unlikely to be a new anti-tank missile. The U.S. Army itself emphasized that the launch was conducted as part of experiments related to "multi-domain operations," indicating a broader role than traditional armor penetration.
Visually, the missile's nose appears to house a compartment possibly for carrying cluster munitions. The only visible control surfaces are three lattice fins at the tail. Structurally, "670" must match the dimensions of the BGM-71 TOW missile, as it was launched from the same tube. However, the two clearly differ in their guidance systems: the TOW uses wire guidance, whereas "670" clearly has no cable tethered.
A possible comparison can be drawn to the GBU-69/B Small Glide Munition (SGM), a 27-kg guided air bomb with a range of up to 37 km. However, "670" features a different control surface configuration. Still, we should note down the possibility that the mysterious "670" might be an SGM variant adapted for ground launch.
Another possibility is that "670" is linked to efforts to revive the M6 Linebacker, a short-range air defense variant of the Bradley. Unlike the standard Bradley, the M6 had Stinger MANPADS launchers instead of TOW ATGMs.
The U.S. Army originally fielded 260 of these vehicles but converted them back to standard Bradleys in 2005–2006. Testing of "670" could indicate a renewed interest in restoring the Bradley’s air defense capabilities.
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