The rapid technological advances made during World War 2 in armoured fighting vehicle design inevitably led to similar advances in the means to combat them. As the battlefield survivability of the tank increased through the advent of better armament, more resistant armour, and faster speeds, so too did the hitting power of anti-tank weapons.

While significant developments were occurring in recoilless weapons, rocket technology also appeared to hold considerable promise, and a number of governments around the world commenced research in this area during the post war era.

For anti-armour weapons, the basic premises which drove the development of the Anti-Tank Guided Weapon (ATGW) were the relatively light weight of the unit when compared to its level of lethality, and the ability to score a first round hit. Another important consideration was the protection of the guidance system from interference.

In Australia, the initial research commenced around 1950 and was sponsored by the Department of Supply, primarily in response to a British Army requirement for a light weight weapon for use by infantry. Development was centred at the Aeronautical Research Laboratory in Melbourne, and codenamed Project E. The Australian Army were neither directly involved nor had formally identified a requirement for an infantry ATGW.

Two years later the British War Office issued an additional requirement for a much heavier ATGW for use by the Armoured Corps. This was initially to be developed in parallel with the infantry version, and was codenamed Project J. Work was carried out under the UK-Australia Joint Projects Agreement which apportioned the tasks between the two countries: the launcher vehicle and warhead being British responsibilities, while the missile and guidance system were developed in Australia. The guidance system was to be by operator command, transmitted through a thin wire spooled out from the rear of the missile while in flight. This was considered to be superior to radio control, as it could not be jammed during the critical few seconds of flight.

A review of the two projects in late 1953 concluded that the heavier Project J ATGW provided greater probability for a first round “kill”, so the lighter Project E development was discontinued. All future effort was to be expended on Project J which, by this stage, had been given the name Malkara, an aboriginal word for shield.

Malkara progressed quickly, with the field test firings commencing at Woomera in mid-1954. During tests in 1955, of a total of fourteen missiles fired, twelve were direct hits on 2.5 metre square targets at ranges up to 1800 metres.

Following the March 1959 British acceptance trails, an order to supply 260 Mk 1 missiles, and over a thousand of the improved Mk 1A missiles, at a unit cost of between £2,000 and £3,000 each was received.

While the unit cost was a distinct marketing disadvantage, there can be no doubt about the high degree of accuracy, reliability and lethality achieved by Malkara. Nevertheless, Malkara only entered service with the British Army. The Australian Army, although expressing some enthusiasm in the early stages, had shifted focus by late 1957, stating that “.... Army has no requirement for Malkara as an anti-tank guided missile since it is considered unsuitable for use in South East Asia which is largely densely covered tropical country.” Following the completion of the British contract in 1964, Malkara production was terminated and developmental research ceased.

In 1962, the Australian Army commenced tactical and technical trials of the French ENTAC ATGW, a light weight and relatively cheap missile with distinct similarities to the abandoned Project E of the early 1950s. ENTAC was adopted and served the Australian Army from 1964 to 1982.

Australian experiments included test fitting a Malkara missile system to the in-service Scout Car, the Ferret Mk2. In any event, the Australian Army did not adopt Malkara, and with the limited UK sales of the system, the Australian lead in ATGW technology was soon eroded.