On paper, when the war began, Ukraine appeared to have little hope of fending off Russia’s powerful military.

However, democracies all over the world have rushed to Ukraine’s aid against Putin’s invaders.

In addition, the Ukrainians have leveled the field (and Russian tanks) with their adroit use of the American-made FGM-148 Javelin advanced anti-tank weapon system.

Why is it so lethal? The Javelin’s high-explosive anti-tank warhead can defeat modern tanks by hitting them from above, where their armor is thinnest.

Watch: The Insane Engineering of the Javelin