Tammuz, the Israeli Army’s secret missile - Guardian Defense & Homeland Security

After the 1973 Yom Kippur War, the Agranat Commission analyzed the failures of the IDF during the conflict and one of the conclusions was that it was necessary to develop anti-tank missiles to destroy the quantitatively superior armored forces and artillery of the Arab armies. The Israeli company Rafael began development of the Tamuz, which would be adopted by the Artillery in the early 1980s and become the germ of the Spike family of missiles. Missile guidance technology opened up new opportunities for the IDF’s deep strike strategy and allowed the Tamuz to be used to attack moving tanks and other targets beyond the front line, in the second echelon.

It was originally equipped with an anti-tank warhead, but has been employed against other targets, such as troops on foot or constructions, using another penetration, crushing and fragmentation (PBR) warhead. In August 2011, the IDF announced the existence of the missile, after thirty years of discreet service, during which the missile’s capabilities were improved, upgraded and perfected to the current version. The Tamuz is a multipurpose missile, capable of being used day or night and in conditions of limited visibility and, given its low acoustic, optical and radar signature, it is difficult to detect from afar. Read more