Asian Defence News

The induction of Arjun MK II main battle tank into the Indian Army by 2016 may get delayed further due to the LAHAT Anti-Tank Guided Missile (ATGM).The Israelis -IAI- who customised the LAHAT Anti-Tank Guided Missile (ATGM) for firing from the 120 mm main gun of the Mark II variant, have gone back to the drawing boards for making the LAHAT to confirm to some Indian Army requirements.

LAHAT was originally developed 1992 by Israeli Aerospace Industries (IAI) for firing from their own Merkava MBT. With a diametre of about 105 mm, the anti-tank can be independently targeted or targeted through laser designation. The latter means an alternative platform can illuminate the target with the anti-tank guided missile (ATGM) homing in on the laser spot.

The range of the LAHAT missile pay-load is about three-and-a-half kilometres on the plains and about two-and-a-half kilometres in the deserts.