Modern wire-guided missiles like the TOW, MILAN, and DRAGON are limited to direct fire.  Since they cannot penetrate the frontal armor of main battle tanks, gunners must hope for a flank shot.  There is also a chance that guidance wires may become entangled in trees and break during flight, especially when tracking a moving target. Another problem is that the gunner must remain exposed to enemy fire while guiding the slow missile for up to 20 seconds through a cluttered battlefield.  Finally, the missile launch creates a large backblast that attracts enemy fire and warns tanks to maneuver into cover.    

     These limitations can be avoided by converting wire-guided missiles into a VIdeo-GUided Missile (VIGUM) so they can be fired indirectly like the new, larger EFOGM systems.  The basic idea is to fire the missile skyward and then use a video link to crash the missile into a target.  The technology for VIGUMs already exists that allows them to dominate the modern battlefield from 40-4000 meters away.  Civilian electronics stores sell tiny inexpensive wireless security cameras that provide a color image.  Martin Electronics has developed a 40mm grenade round with a tiny camera and transmitter called HUNTIR (pdf).  This allows quick reconnaissance using a tiny Chinese CMOS camera that also provides infrared images and costs less than $80 retail.  It should not be difficult to use that technology with a guided missile system.  The gunner can use a cheap notebook computer and a joy stick to guide the missile like a video game.  Video-guided mortar rounds are also possible. 

     Wireless is ideal, but the signal is subject to interference and jamming.

     As the missile falls, a miniature color camera in the nose will provide a video feed via the thin trailing wires back to the gunner.  This will provide a birds-eye view of the missile descent to the gunner's laptop computer, allowing him to guide the missile with a game joystick. The gunner can literally crash the missile into any target below.  This allows him to hit targets in the next city block, or hit a window in a tall building.  The guidance wires cannot become entangled and enemy vehicles cannot hide in defilade.  In addition, the falling missile has a much larger target picture from above, and will strike into a tank's thin overhead armor.  Infantrymen can also use VIGUMs offensively against crew-served weapons.  In urban operations, VIGUMs can fly over or around buildings to strike any target with pinpoint accuracy.

     The laptop can be replaced by a helmet-mounted computer video display to provide the gunner with a better image.  The joystick can be replaced by a handheld "trackball" mouse.  Accuracy may be improved by adding retarding petals that pop-out when the missile motor shuts down, like those now used to slow the speed of aircraft bombs.  This slows its descent and allows the gunner a few more seconds to view the battlefield and select a target.  Finally, low-cost simulators can provide gunners with unlimited realistic training.

     VIGUMs are not a complex futuristic weapon.  They only require low-cost commercially available video technology to allow a human gunner to conduct kamikaze missile attacks.  Gunners will learn from each attack, allowing them to recognize decoys, overcome countermeasures, determine if another attack is warranted, and provide instant intelligence to local commanders.  VIGUMs are a revolution in infantry affairs.