A TAMUZ missile flies through the sky. (photo credit:IDF SPOKESPERSON'S UNIT)
Posted on 09/16/2015 3:43:59 AM PDT by sukhoi-30mki
The Yom-Kippur War left the IDF with a limited capacity of coping with the Russian armor of Egypt and Syria. The IDF sought a way to extend the range at which enemy tanks may be engaged and destroyed. The solution was provided by Rafael that developed the Tamuz (Spike) missile in the early 1980s. Back then, the Spike had a range of 8 kilometers, could be employed during the daytime and proved highly effective against the Russian armor.
The question was what should be done with that missile. One of the most creative ideas was conceived by Col. (res.) Benny Beit-Or, who wanted to build a Tamuz launching platform that would look like a tank. The idea was for such a platform to blend into a column of standard tanks, so as to take the enemy by surprise just before the actual engagement. For this purpose, the platform was developed by Rafael and manufacturing was assigned to IMI, and in 1982 the new weapon system was delivered to the Moran unit of the IDF.
Moran was an Artillery Corps unit established around the “Pere” (Savage) platform, which operated in southern Israel. Its objective was to prepare for the crucial day when Egyptian armor columns once again march toward Israel. Beit-Or was the unit’s first commander. Later on, the Artillery Corps established the Meitar Unit, which operated the “Pere” platform in northern Israel, and eventually the Moran Unit was absorbed by the Meitar Unit.
Until 2005, the battalion was not involved in any operational activity and its entire function was to prepare secretly for a future armor-versus-armor war. With the exception of a handful of people who were familiar with the “Pere” system within the IDF, the platform remained strictly confidential. Eventually, the IDF acquired Merkava tanks, and the M-60 platform, on which the “Pere” platform was based, could no longer blend into the tank units without arousing suspicions on the enemy’s side. This may have been one of the reasons why the censors granted the request by the Israeli “Fresh” website to publicize this weapon system last July.
In 2005 a decision was made to employ the “Pere” platform for the first time in Lebanon. Subsequently, it was employed operationally in the Second Lebanon War of 2006 (during which “Pere” platforms launched 527 missiles), in Operation Cast Lead (27 missiles) and in Operation Protective Edge (433 missiles) as well as in specific incidents where the IDF responded to “leakages” from Syria.
The “Pere” platform is based on an M-60 Patton tank fitted with an expanded turret which houses a Tamuz (Spike NLOS) missile launcher with 12 launching tubes. The crew consists of four specialists: commander, driver and two missile aimers/operators. The “Pere” platform is fitted with Rafael’s “Raz Pra’ee” system that supports the launching of the Tamuz missiles. From the moment of the actual launch, the missile takes 40 to 60 seconds to reach any target up to a maximum range of 30 kilometers. The aimer’s job is to identify the target and steer the missile, which is fitted with a camera, all the way to the target.
The accuracy of the Tamuz missile makes it possible to engage “disappearing” targets that pop out of a window or operate on foot. Among other things, the “Pere” crews can handle enemy detachments that operate rocket launchers, motorcycle riders and enemy surveillance teams, including teams deployed inside buildings. The effectiveness of this weapon system enables it to close the sensor-to-shooter cycle within a very short time. To prevent collateral damage, if a decision is made to abort the mission while the missile is already airborne, the aimer can steer the missile into the ground and crash it in order to avoid hitting uninvolved parties.
The recent media exposure and the low probability of a future armor-versus-armor confrontation notwithstanding, the “Pere” platform is expected to remain in IDF service in the coming years, as part of the precision weapon systems of the Artillery Corps that are being employed alongside the statistical fire resources. In the recent confrontations, the “Pere” platform proved that an equation that includes prompt response and the accuracy of the Tamuz missiles constitutes a deterrence element even in an asymmetrical warfare environment.
A TAMUZ missile flies through the sky. (photo credit:IDF SPOKESPERSON'S UNIT)
Israel is a genius when it comes to modifying (for their specific needs) either US or locally produced systems. This drives US Defense manufacturers nuts because somebody has the “gall” to improve their systems.
I wonder what US tank designers think of the Merkava’s front engine design?
I sort of like that it can carry tank scouts, as well.
If you’d like to be on or off, please FR mail me.
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Love the Israelis, but they sometimes “improve” the designs at the expense of the original developers.
So, the Israelis and Americans spend $Billions on the Iron Dome system while the Paleostinians launch tin cans with warheads over the border at a fraction of the cost.
You’ll get no argument from me. I’ve seen the disgusting waste in our development programs firsthand. The amazing thing is that anything of value ever gets through!
That would also make it a good APC, just not much personnel capacity.
I’ll bet they have some reconfigured to hold fewer rounds and more troops for “special occasions”.
Probably the same thing those tank designers think of the Bradley front engine design. The Merkava is a hybrid tank/apc designed to carry a small squad of dismounted troops in addition to being able to fight as a near-MBT. Additionally, the Merkava is designed primarily for urban fighting, rather than open-country battle.
They did. I think the UK was involved somewhat?
About 10 years ago, I saw a German 98 Mauser that had been re-barreled to 7.62 Nato and supposedly came from Israel.
People wish walls could talk, but I have held firearms that could recant some history.
Yea, they’re already working on adding conformal fuel tanks to the F-35. They’ve done it with the f-16 with no real hit to maneuverability or speed.
They're going to need the F-35 soon because Obomination ensured their (the Jews) back would be against the wall instead of his (Obomination’s) promise that he would have the Israelis’ back.
What a liar, what a sell out!
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