Over the past few decades, the nature of warfare faced by the IDF has evolved. While battles in the past involved symmetrical confrontations, such as tank-on-tank or fighter jets against one another, today's conflicts are asymmetrical. Combatants on opposing sides employ vastly different tools—such as fighter jets versus air defense systems.
The IDF has long grappled with the absence of tanks among Israel's immediate adversaries, who have shifted toward guerrilla tactics as part of this asymmetrical warfare. In response, Israel's defense establishment has continuously sought to adapt to this evolving battlefield. In the current Swords of Iron War, various adjustments and innovations have been implemented, including the introduction of robotic systems. Now, another adaptation has surfaced: a repurposed weapon designed to tackle fortified structures.
In recent years, the IDF's use of anti-tank missiles and launchers has waned. These systems have primarily been deployed against terrorists entrenched in buildings, rather than against armored vehicles. Recognizing this shift, the IDF's Technological Division began working two years ago on a solution that would be quick, cost-effective, and easy to implement without requiring extensive training or procedural changes for soldiers.
At the same time, many anti-tank launchers were being decommissioned and stored for eventual scrapping. But with the pressing need for new weapons to target fortifications, the Technological Division identified an opportunity. They repurposed the stored anti-tank launchers into effective, modern weapon for the battlefield, just in time for the ongoing war.
Why not stick with the LAW missile?
One may ask that the IDF already uses the LAW (Light Anti-Tank Weapon) missile. So why develop another weapon? There are two main reasons:
- Boosting local production: Since the start of the war, Israel has prioritized increasing domestic production to reduce reliance on external sources, such as the US and Europe, which could halt supplies unexpectedly, as seen in the past year.
- Cost efficiency: The repurposed launchers utilize materials originally slated for scrapping, significantly lowering costs.
This warrents an explanation on the make of an anti-tank launcher, having four main components:
- Warhead: Contains the explosive material.
- Fuse: The "brain" that determines when the warhead detonates.
- Rocket Motor: Propels the munition and aids penetration the target.
- Tube: A disposable cylinder through which the missile is launched.
The key modification in the repurposed weapon lies in the warhead. The IDF Technological Division removed the rocket motors from old anti-tank launchers and paired them with the warheads of 60mm mortar shells. Using a custom adapter developed at the IDF's Rehabilitation and Maintenance Center, they integrated a fuse, creating a new launcher tailored to penetrate structures.
Before deployment, the IDF ensured the modified weapon met its operational goals. The warhead is designed to detonate only after penetrating a building's wall, rather than on initial impact. Adjustments were also made to reduce weight, which had increased due to the addition of the new fuse and components. After successful trials, the team reduced the weight of the custom adapter without compromising soldier safety.
The IDF Ammunition Center now operates a production line for these repurposed launchers. Weapons once awaiting scrapping have been refurbished and integrated into combat units. In the past two months, the system has been actively used in operations, receiving highly positive feedback from soldiers in the field.
