LAHAT
| Industry | Aerospace and defense |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1953 |
| Headquarters | Israel |
| Products | LAHAT missile, aerospace and defense products |
The LAHAT (an acronym for laser homing attack or laser homing anti-tank, also a Hebrew term meaning incandescence) is a lightweight, third-generation semi-active laser homing anti-tank guided missile developed beginning in 1991 by Israel Aerospace Industries. It incorporates a tandem-charge high-explosive anti-tank (HEAT) warhead and is chiefly engineered for launch from Merkava tanks equipped with 105 mm and 120 mm tank guns. This missile is compatible with any 105 mm or 120 mm artillery, including low-recoil and lightweight guns mounted on military armoured cars.
Beyond tank deployment, the LAHAT can be adapted for use on patrol ships and may be modified to operate with 105–106 mm recoilless rifles, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), high mobility multipurpose wheeled vehicles (HMMWVs), as well as self-propelled anti-aircraft weapon (SPAAG) systems. Unlike standard tank ammunition, the LAHAT functions independently of tank guns for its operation.
Overview
The LAHAT missile boasts a kill probability of approximately 95% under typical operational conditions. Its semi-active laser guidance mechanism allows for both direct and indirect target illumination, enabling designation by the firing platform itself or by external sources such as other tanks, helicopters, UAVs, or forward observers. This capability reduces the exposure risk during engagement. The missile’s low launch signature supports flight paths tailored either for top-attack profiles against armored vehicles and warships or direct-attack modes suitable for helicopter gunships.
With an operational reach of up to 8 kilometers when launched from ground level and extended ranges from elevated positions, the missile can engage targets at distances of 7 kilometers within 14 seconds. It achieves a precision of approximately 0.35 meters circular error probable (CEP) and can strike at angles exceeding 30 degrees. Its tandem-charge warhead penetrates reactive armor effectively, capable of breaching up to 800 millimeters of rolled homogeneous armor (RHA). The LAHAT is stored in standard tank ammunition racks and managed similarly to conventional tank rounds.
For Latin American customers, the missile has been marketed under the name "Nimrod-SR."
The missile has undergone evaluation by the United States military for potential integration on armed UAV platforms, including testing on the IAI RQ-5 Hunter. Demonstrations have validated successful launches from helicopters, firing eight missiles at targets situated up to 7 kilometers away from altitudes ranging between 500 and 1,000 meters. These tests included successful strikes on moving targets utilizing combined helicopter surveillance and ground-based laser designation.