The BGM-71F and its minimum and maximum range?

• A. TOW 2B; 200 meters and 3,750 meters
• B. TOW 2A; 65 meters and 3,750 meters
• C. TOW 2B Aero; 200 meters and 4,200 meters
• D. TOW Bunker Buster; 65 meters and 3,750 meters

Answer: (B)

The concept being tested is the missile’s engagement envelope—the practical distances the BGM-71F can effectively operate from. The BGM-71F corresponds to the TOW 2A variant, which has a minimum engagement distance of about 65 meters. This safety margin exists because the missile must clear the launcher’s immediate blast and allow the guidance system to acquire and steer the target after launch. The maximum effective range is about 3,750 meters, determined by the motor burn, aerodynamics, and the guidance system’s ability to control the projectile over distance. Other TOW variants exist with different ranges (for example, the TOW 2B Aero variant extends toward roughly 4,200 meters), but for the BGM-71F, the 65-meter to 3,750-meter envelope is the correct pairing.