SMD-13 Tahadi
| SMD-13 Tahadi تحدي | |
|---|---|
 A deactivated SMD-13A missile. | |
| 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. Additionally However, it was clear early on that it was impossible for the missile to be supersonic and still meet the weight requirements, so the competition was split into a "duplex" system - a lightweight, subsonic missile for the infantry, and a heavy, supersonic missile for vehicles.