The LAHAT ATGM ("Laser Homing Attack" or "Laser Homing Anti-Tank", also a Hebrew word for incandescence) is a third-generation semi-active laser-homing guided low-weight anti-tank guided missile, developed in 1992 and manufactured by Israel Aerospace Industries. It was designed primarily to be fired by Merkava tanks' 105 mm and 120 mm tank guns, though it matches all types of 105 mm and 120 mm guns, including low recoil guns and low-weight guns of military armored cars. It is also suitable for patrol ships, possibly modified for 105–106 mm recoilless rifles, UAVs, HMMWVs, and SPAAGs.Unlike other tank rounds, LAHAT does not need a tank gun for operation.
LAHAT
Type: ATGM
Place of origin: Israel
Service History: 1992–present
Unit cost: $25,000 (1999)[1]
Specifications
Mass: 13 kg
Length: 975 mm (38.4 in)
Diameter: 105 mm (4.1 in)
Warhead: Tandem HEAT
Warhead weight: 4.5 kg (9.9 lb)
Operational range: 6,000–8,000 m ground-launched
8,000–13,000 m air-launched
Maximum speed: 285–300 m/s (940–980 ft/s)
Guidance system: Semi-Active Laser Homing
Launch platform: 105–120 mm smoothbore
rotary-wing aircraft
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| Lahat Anti-Tank Missile |
Overview
The LAHAT has been successfully test-fired from a helicopter in demonstrations. Eight missiles were launched at targets up to 10 km (6.2 mi) away from altitudes between 300 and 6,000 ft (91 and 1,829 m). Firings were conducted while the helicopter was hovering, and moving, at targets that were fixed, and moving. One direct hit was scored using the helicopter's observation capability along with laser designation from ground forces.
The LAHAT is designed to achieve a 95 percent probability of killing under most conditions It has a semi-active laser guidance system, capable of both direct and indirect laser designation—the target can be laser-designated by the launching platform (e.g. firing tank) or another platform (e.g. another tank, helicopter, UAV, or forward scouting team), requiring minimal exposure in the firing position. With a low launch signature, the missile's trajectory can be set to match either top attack (armored fighting vehicle, warship) or direct attack (helicopter gunship) engagements.
The LAHAT missile has a range of up to 8,000 m (5.0 mi) when launched from a ground platform, and up to 13,000 m (8.1 mi) when deployed from a high elevation. The time of flight to a target at 4,000 m (2.5 mi) is 14 seconds and the missile hits the target at an accuracy of 0.7 m (2.3 ft) CEP and an angle of over 30 degrees, providing effective penetration of up to 800 mm (31 in) of RHA armor steel with its tandem warhead to deal with add-on reactive armor. In any tank, the LAHAT is stowed like other rounds in the ammunition rack and handled just like any other type of ammunition.
The LAHAT was renamed Nimrod-SR for the Latin American market.
The United States military is considering using the LAHAT as a weapon to arm unmanned aerial vehicles. The missile has been tested on the IAI RQ-5 Hunter.
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