The 120mm Hatzav M339 HE MP T Tank Cartridge is a highly accurate 120mm High-Explosive Multi-Purpose cartridge against dismounted infantry and LAVs, bunkers and urban structures. The Hatzav round Developed by IMI Systems and in collaboration with the Tank Planning Directorate (TPD) and the Ground Forces Command (GFC) following the lessons learned from the Second Lebanon War and Operation Cast Lead, where the existing “Halolan” munition was not efficient enough for dealing with enemy forces operating out of buildings and fortifications, especially in populated areas. The 120mm Hatzav delayed action cartridge first penetrates outer wall of structure, then explodes.
The Hatzav round offers a higher precision and efficiency, even when firing a single round, against enemy forces hiding and attacking from buildings / fortifications and light armored vehicles, while significantly reducing collateral damage. The 120mm Hatzav M339 HE MP T Tank Cartridge is unique and as part of the advanced Calanit and Rakefet tank rounds’ family, can penetrate various types of walls and explode within the targets right after penetrating. Its warhead contains a unique explosive and fragmentation material providing its high lethal capability
The Hatzav which belongs to the same family as the IDF’s Rakefet and Kalanit shells – can be fired at ranges of up to 5 km, or about 3 miles. It will replace the “Halulan” shell in the Merkava Mark 3 and 4 tanks. The IDF Armored Corps has begun using the Israel Military Industries (IMI) Hatzav shell (M329 APAM-MP-T), after first deploying it operationally during Operation Protective Edge in the Gaza Strip. The “Hatzav” round of IMI Systems, which was firstly implemented in the Merkava mark 3 and mark 4 tanks, becomes a main military ammunition of the armored corps.
