The Bolas Is A Rebranded Anti-Tank Missile

The second installment of Saudi Arabia’s World Defense Show, which took place outside Riyadh from February 4 until 8, was as tremendous as advertised. Like its original launch in 2022 Asian countries enjoyed a level of participation that rivaled their Western competitors. There was a strong emphasis on the host country’s own efforts at building up its military-industrial sector. With all due respect to the multitude of exhibitors from Türkiye and the United States the Chinese companies at the show–the sprawling Poly Defence among them–had their own vast acreage to display their wares. The arsenal mounted on tables and stands and even walls was a dazzling one and these included portable anti-tank missiles.

Contemporary anti-tank missiles are offered by several Chinese manufacturers. It’s Norinco and Poly Defense, however, who are best known as suppliers of these weapon systems. Seen at World Defense Show 2024 were Poly Defence’s GAM-series ATGMs but with a twist: these were now branded as the “Bolas” after the contraption used for tackling animals. The name choice is obviously a marketing push for the GAM-100/102 missile launchers that haven’t attracted large orders despite several years spent shopping them around arms shows. The shoulder-fired Bolas GAM-100LR, being portable, was planted back-to-back with the Norinco HJ-12E. Both the Bolas GAM-100LR and the HJ-12E are comparable to the US-made FGM-148 Javelin. (The unfair rivalry with the Javelin and its global exports may have inspired the name change to “Bolas.” )

In the picture above the readers will notice another missile on display behind the Bolas GAM-100LR. It’s labelled “TL-4” and corresponds to another lightweight and portable anti-tank missile from a Chinese manufacturer; this time the state-owned aerospace company CASC. At the risk of becoming repetitive Chinese anti-tank missiles are offered in such variety today that no other country does the same.

Joining the Bolas GAM-100LR was its heavier sibling the Bolas GAM-102LR mounted on a folding tripod. This variant is armed with a larger missile with top attack flight and engagement characteristics. The GAM-102LR in a tandem launcher for a remote weapon station was displayed next to the single launcher. A pop up quad launcher for the GAM-102LR does exist and it’s supposed to be installed in a vehicle. The adaptability of China’s anti-tank missiles is broader than many realize. For example, if Poly Group/Poly Defence is a chosen supplier of missiles for a Middle Eastern/West Asian ground force it’s possible to order portable launchers for individual operators along with far more complex launch systems on vehicles. This is seen with the containerized launcher for the CM-501GA that can be adapted for whatever transport is preferred.

The spread of top attack missiles in different calibers across Asia is still ongoing. So far, China, India, Iran, Israel, Japan, the two Koreas, and Türkiye have all introduced similar weapon systems. The appeal of these munitions are their extreme range (depending on the model) matched with precision together with the ease in deploying them on aircraft, watercraft, and vehicles. It’s only a matter of time before other countries offer new models as production is either organized or transferred from one location to another. Top attack missiles are also flourishing across Europe with new models found in Germany and Serbia.

Saudi Arabia has a 40-year history of purchasing Chinese weapons although in modest quantities compared with its relationship with suppliers from the UK and US. There were some indications Saudi-China arms deals were under discussion at World Defense Show 2024 although the details are elusive. The oil-rich kingdom’s armed forces are no strangers to all types of Chinese missiles and have years of experience operating Chinese-made combat drones.