Tamuz: A brief look

The Tamuz precision guided Beyond Line Of Sight (BLOS) guided missile was developed by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems since the late 1970s and has been fielded by the Israeli Artillery Corps since the early 1980s.

With a range of 15.5 miles, the missile is equipped with an electric optic sensor that transmits the image of its target to its operators inside an specially modified M-113 armored personnel carrier known as "Hafiz", who then manually drive it towards the target. The missiles are fired from two launchers installed in the mentioned carrier, each of which is capable of carrying three missiles, although the carrier can carry and additional four missiles inside.

By using this weapon’s long range and rapid response capability, high precision and minimal risk of collateral damage the IDF could relay a warning to the enemy without risking unwanted and excessive effects that could be caused by heavier guided weapons or statistical weapons (artillery, mortars). In words of Col. Sharon, Commander of the Artillery Corps David Sling, “The missile provides us with the ability to accurately attack targets from a standoff position without needing to physically come into contact with the enemy”