SMD-13 Tahadi
SMD-13 Tahadi تحدي | |
---|---|
Type | Anti-tank missile |
Place of origin | Riysa |
Service history | |
In service | 1974 - present |
Used by | Riysa |
Production history | |
Designer | Rifaee Precision Engineering Bureau |
Designed | 1964-1972 |
Unit cost | $23,730 (Export, 2018) |
Specifications | |
Diameter | 135 mm |
Effective firing range | 75 - 4000 m (- 5000 m, SMD-13T) |
Warhead | Single or tandem-charge HEAT |
Detonation mechanism | Impact fuze |
Engine | Solid fuel rocket |
Speed | 232 m/s |
Guidance system | SACLOS wire-guidance |
Launch platform | Individual, vehicle |
The SMD-13 Tahadi (Arabic: تحدي, "Challenge") is a Riysian second-generation anti-tank guided missile, developed by the Rifaee Precision Engineering Bureau. Essentially an enlarged and longer-ranged SMD-12 Ain Jalut missile, it is designed for mounting on vehicles and helicopters, but can also be fired from the SMD-12's man-portable firing post.
As of 2019, it is still in production in the improved SMD-13MJ model, and it is both the most produced Riysian anti-tank missile and the most common anti-tank missile in the Riysian Armed Forces. However, its end of life is in sight, as it is planned to replace it with the SMD-19 Amjad complex.
Development
The first generation of anti-tank missiles, Ghandour's SMD-10 Yarmouk and Rifaee's own SMD-11 Ramah, had entered service in Riysa in the late 50s and early 60s, and had been proven to be a valuable set of weapons. However, it was clear early on that the MCLOS guidance systems was a major shortcoming of those missiles, as it was extremely demanding both physically and psychologically on the missile operator. In addition, their poor performance in some areas - in particular a large "dead zone" and slow flight speed - of first generation missiles made them difficult to use tactically. Thus, almost concurrently with the introduction of these first generation ATGMs, a need to replace them with even more effective systems was identified.
Thus, in 1964 - almost concurrently with the introduction of the first generation - the Ministry of National Defence announced a competition for the development of the second generation of Riysian anti-tank missiles. This second-generation missile was intended to replace both the man-portable SMD-11 and the vehicle mounted SMD-10, as a "universal" missile with both light weight and high performance; would have semi-automatic guidance to minimize the strain on the operator; and most importantly, be supersonic. However, it was clear early on that it was impossible for a supersonic missile to be .