Case in point: The public had relatively little knowledge of the battlefield performance of current gen ATGM's prior to Russia's recent offensive in Ukraine. This is in spite of the fact "current gen" dates back to the 2003 US invasion of Iraq where they played a decisive role. Today, according to the press, ATGMs are the savior of Ukraine.
And the threat posed by ATGMs to improperly deployed tanks has been well understood since the 73 War where Israel first faced the Sagger ATGM.
Also, ATGMs didn't play a big role in either Iraq or Afghanistan, especially against armored vehicles. In Afghanistan the Javelin was used primarily as a bunker buster or knocking on cave doors. In Iraq, both TOW and Javelin were used for breaking up fortifications. Hellfire was used in the abortive Apache raid that showed how useless helicopter gunships were in a contested environment with lots of AAA.
This idea that there's a secret arsenal with staff and personal briefed on a need to know basis is just conspiracy theory. Sure, there are weapons in development that are secret, and specific capabilities are secret, but there's very few silver bullets hiding out in Tonopah or White Sands.
Agreed, but most didn't. I believe it was downplayed.
ATGMs didn't play a big role in either Iraq or Afghanistan
I said they played a "decisive" role. I should have said a "key" role. The battle of Debecka Pass is one such example.
Agreed. Key in the battle, not a key battle.
saved by F-18s flying CAS
That's not how the team explained it.