09/04/2006
 

Lahat for Leopard 2 tanks

IAI/MBT Missiles Division and Rheinmetall Defence have joined forces to offer an upgrade kit for Leopard 1/2 main battle tanks featuring a gun-launched laser homing weapon system (Lahat).

Lahat is a laser homing missile available in two basic configurations: tank-launched and canister-launched. In the tank-launched configuration the missile is packaged in a standard tank round cartridge, and is fired from the tank's main gun. It can be launched from a 105 mm gun or from a 120 mm gun using a sabot. The missile's small size and weight make it uniquely suitable for carrying and launching from small platforms. As a tank-launched weapon Lahat adds major new capability to MBTs, enabling first-shot kills of armoured targets at ranges over 6 km using internal or external designation.
 

It also provides new capabilities in challenging scenarios such as combat in open areas as well as in as urban warfare, using indirect firing with external designation.

The missile system passed a successful live-fire test in Meppen, Germany, last year. During the demonstration the Lahat missiles were launched from the gun of a Leopard 2 A4 tank. One missile was fired against a stationary tank; the second missile was fired against a moving tank driven by remote control. Both targets were located about 4 km from the launching tank, and both missiles scored direct hits, within 30 cm from the centre of the laser designation spot.