Hi,
Today, Hezbollah attacked a Merkava 4 tank on the northern border with the 3.5 generation Iranian anti-tank missile – Alams (الماس, which translates to Diamond).
Earlier versions of anti-tank missiles require direct eye contact between the operator and the target. But those newer anti-tank missiles are much more versatile in their abilities and course of flying. They do not require this kind of eye contact, and the operator can navigate the missile to the target using a camera on the missile head (Lock-on after launch).
This missile is a step up in Hezbollah capabilities to attack tanks. It is also a step up in its snipping capabilities as the terror organization uses it anti-tank missiles as a snipping weapon.
If, till now, we have only had to look straight and verify, the enemy has no clear line of firing towards us – now we would have to see we have something above our head as not to be recognized and see from above.
The missile was secret for decades, to be used against the Syrian armored corps by Moran and Meitar IDF units.
As Syria and its army was slowly collapsing, and the missiles slowly getting old, the IDF started using it in the Second Intifida. The use was not against tanks but to kill terrorists in the West bank and in Gaza strip, because of its accuracy and long distance.
Iran did not develop the missile by itself, but reversed engineered the weapon from the Israeli spike anti-tank missile. The missile was captured by Hezbollah terrorists during the Second Lebanon war, which pass it on to Iran.
Take Care
Gad
The attack on a tank Merkava 4 on the north. See how the missile changed its angle of flying and attack and hit the tank from above.
The Alams tripod launcher (Source: cat-uxo.com)