BEN GURION INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, Israel, Oct. 24 (UPI) -- Israel Aerospace Industries is equipping the country's combat helicopters with its LAHAT semi-active homing missile system.
The LAHAT, or laser homing attack missile, is a lightweight guided missile with line-of-site and non-line-of-site firing capabilities and a small launch signature. The missiles are fired from a quad-pack launcher that weighs 165 pounds.
Israel Aerospace Industries described the contract for the missile system as "substantial" and said it is for "a large number" of units.
The contract covers installation, integration and testing aboard combat helicopters.
The types of helicopters that will carry the system and a delivery schedule for the systems ordered were not disclosed.
"LAHAT can be installed on different types of helicopters without interfering with their existing systems," the company said. "The system significantly improves the fire power (through missile range, accuracy and quantity) of current and new attack, assault and utility helicopters."
In addition to the missiles themselves, the LAHAT package consists of quad-pack launchers, a multimission optronic stabilized payload day/night observation system, a targeting and designation system, a firing computer, avionics and multifunction displays.
The system, now in its third generation design, was developed in the early 1990s for use on tanks.
