On Monday, the IDF disclosed the existence of a guided missile called the Tamuz. The missile has a range of 25 km. and can penetrate armored vehicles. It can come with a different anti-personnel warhead. The missile is launched from an armored personnel carrier from two launchers, each of which is capable of carrying three missiles. The APC can carry an additional four missiles inside.

The Tamuz uses an advanced electro-optic camera that transmits the image of its target back to operators inside the APC, who then manually drive it toward the target. Tamuz teams work closely with an artillery unit, which operates Hermes 450 reconnaissance unmanned aerial vehicles that provide the intelligence on the targets that are then attacked by the Tamuz missile.

“The missile provides us with the ability to accurately attack targets from a standoff position without needing to physically come into contact with the enemy,” explained Col. Sharon, commander of the Artillery Corps’ David’s Sling Formation.

The Tamuz was used extensively during the Second Lebanon War in 2006 when Meitar fired 600 missiles at Hezbollah targets. Nevertheless, the results were not satisfactory and a new operational doctrine was written for how to operate the missile in an urban terrain and against which targets. The missile was again used against Hamas targets during Operation Cast Lead in the Gaza Strip in January 2009 with greater success. Until now, the missile was top-secret. Why has it been revealed now? IDF sources said the decision to unveil the Tamuz came after long deliberations within the defense establishment. One of the reasons the missile was declassified was since the IDF has decided to upgrade Meitar’s capabilities with new weapons systems, and while it will still use the Tamuz, it will not buy more after the current arsenal is exhausted. Heh.

Well, I did promise you video, didn't I? So let's go to the videotape.


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