Almas (missile)

{{Short description|Iranian air-to-surface missile}} {{Infobox weapon | name = Almas | image = Almas 1 Army-2022 2022-08-20 2230.jpg | image_size = 250px | type = [[Surface-to-surface missile]]<br />[[Air-to-surface missile]] | origin = Iran  | is_ranged = Yes | is_explosive = Yes | is_vehicle = Yes | is_missile = Yes | is_UK =  | service = 2021-present | wars = [[Israel–Hezbollah conflict (2023–2024)]] <br /> [[2026 Lebanon war]]  | designer = | variants =  | sights =  | traverse =  | filling = [[Tandem-charge|Tandem HEAT]]/[[Thermobaric weapon|thermobaric]] {{citation needed|date=April 2025}} | yield =  | engine = Solid-fuel rocket | vehicle_range = 4 km (Almas-1) | guidance = Imaging infrared homing (IIR) & electro-optical (EO) {{citation needed|date=April 2025}} | steering =  | transport =  }}

'''Almas''' ({{langx|fa|الماس|lit=diamond}})<ref>https://www.ynetnews.com/article/b1i004vxx1e</ref> is a family of unlicensed Iranian copies of the Israeli [[Spike (missile)|Spike]] family of [[surface-to-surface]] and [[air-to-surface]] [[missile]]s used for anti-armor attacks.<ref name="nytimes">{{cite web |date=23 November 2024 |title=Hezbollah Believed to Be Using Copy of Israeli Missile Against Israel |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/11/23/world/middleeast/hezbollah-israel-missile-iran.html |access-date= |website=[[The New York Times]] |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20250618221838/https://www.nytimes.com/2024/11/23/world/middleeast/hezbollah-israel-missile-iran.html|archivedate=2025-06-18|author=Lara Jakes and Ronen Bergman}}</ref>

==History== [[File:Iranian Ministry of Defense military exhibition in Tehran (155).jpg|thumb|Almas 1/2/3 at a defense expo]] Iran reportedly was transferred Israeli [[Spike (missile)|Spike-MR]] missiles that were captured during the [[2006 Lebanon War]] by Hezbollah,<ref name="WTCI">{{Cite web |date=6 November 2006 |title=Report: Missile system captured by Hizbullah, sent to Iran |url=https://www.worldtribune.com/worldtribune/WTARC/2006/me_iran_11_06.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240214123251/https://www.worldtribune.com/worldtribune/WTARC/2006/me_iran_11_06.html |archive-date=14 February 2024 |access-date=14 February 2024 |website=World Tribune}}</ref> which were converted into an unlicensed variant of the missile that was designated the Almas-1.<ref name="nytimes" /><ref name="PJI">{{Cite web |date=8 July 2021 |title=Iranian IRGC unveils ground-launched Almas anti-tank missile |url=https://polygonjournal.com/2021/07/08/iranian-irgc-unveils-ground-launched-almas-anti-tank-missile/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240129043057/https://polygonjournal.com/2021/07/08/iranian-irgc-unveils-ground-launched-almas-anti-tank-missile/ |archive-date=29 January 2024 |access-date=14 February 2024 |website=Polygon Military Magazine}}</ref> The ground-launched ATGM version was unveiled in public on 7 July 2021.<ref name="PJI" /> It was shown overseas at the MILEX 2023 exhibition held in May in Belarus<ref name="IMP2">{{cite web|url=https://zbiam.pl/artykuly/przeciwpancerne-pociski-kierowane-iranu-cz-2/|title=Przeciwpancerne pociski kierowane Iranu cz. 2|language=pl|date=December 2023|author=Adam M. Maciejewski|publisher=ZBIAM}}</ref> and at the Partner 2023 exhibition held in September in Serbia.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gosselin-Malo |first=Elisabeth |date=28 September 2023 |title=How Iranian, Russian arms makers shared a Belgrade trade fair hall |url=https://www.defensenews.com/global/europe/2023/09/28/how-iranian-russian-arms-makers-shared-a-belgrade-trade-fair-hall/ |access-date=27 April 2024 |website=Defense News |language=en}}</ref>

On 25 January 2024, a video was released that appeared to show Hezbollah forces using the system against an Israeli surveillance outpost<ref name="Rogoway">{{cite news |last=Rogoway |first=Tyler |date=25 January 2024 |title=Iranian Knock-Off Of Israel's Spike Missile Used In Hezbollah Attack |url=https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/iranian-knock-off-of-israels-spike-missile-used-in-hezbollah-attack |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240129212700/https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/iranian-knock-off-of-israels-spike-missile-used-in-hezbollah-attack |archive-date=29 January 2024 |access-date=26 January 2024 |work=The Drive}}</ref> at [[Shlomi, Israel|Shlomi]].<ref name="FDDH">{{cite web | url=https://www.fdd.org/analysis/op_eds/2024/02/26/breaking-down-hezbollahs-rocket-strategy-the-short-range-threat/ | title=Breaking down Hezbollah's rocket strategy: The Short-Range Threat | date=26 February 2024 }}</ref> On 27 January 2024, another attack involving the Almas was reported at [[Rosh HaNikra (kibbutz)|Rosh HaNikra]].<ref name="FDDH"/>

In November 2024, it was reported that Israeli troops captured Almas ATGMs alongside Kornets from Hezobollah forces during [[September 2024 Israeli attacks against Lebanon|Operation Northern Arrows]].<ref name="en.defence-ua.com">https://en.defence-ua.com/news/israel_captured_so_many_atgms_from_hezbollah_that_considers_creating_units_using_russian_kornet_and_iranian_almas-12429.html</ref>

In January 2025, it was reported that the Badr ATGM was developed based on the Almas.<ref>https://defencesecurityasia.com/en/irans-army-unveils-its-latest-top-attack-anti-tank-missile-badr/</ref><ref>https://global.tendernews.com/newsdetails.aspx?s=4552&t=Iran-Tests-New-Badr-ATGM-to-Enhance-Infantry-Strike-Capabilities</ref>

==Variants==

===Almas-1=== Exact copy of the Spike with a range of 4,000 meters and weight of 15 kg.<ref name="dua">https://www.zona-militar.com/en/2024/04/06/iran-advances-in-developing-almas-anti-tank-system-after-reverse-engineering</ref>

===Almas-2=== Has a range of 8,000 meters when fired from the ground with claims of penetrating up to 1,000 mm of armor.<ref name="dua"/>

===Almas-3=== Clone of the Spike ER with its warhead based on a two-stage high-explosive or thermobaric type.{{citation needed|date=April 2025}} It has a range between 10 and 16 km.<ref name="en.defence-ua.com"/>

===Almas-4=== Almas-4, the newer generation of this missile, among other improvements, send clearer images of its flight back to its operators. According to CAT-UXO, a munitions awareness group, this missile can carry two types of warheads. One can detonate in two phases, making it easier to penetrate armor. The other is a fuel-air bomb that explodes into a fireball.<ref name="nytimes" /> It is reportedly based on the Spike NLOS.<ref>https://www.overtdefense.com/2025/02/20/new-iranian-almas-4-advanced-long-range-anti-tank-missile-technology/</ref>

==Operators==

*{{flag|Hezbollah}}: Known to be using the Almas.<ref>{{cite web |date=4 April 2024 |title=A Profile of Hezbollah's Almas Missile – Capabilities and Significance |url=https://israel-alma.org/2024/04/04/a-profile-of-hezbollahs-almas-missile-capabilities-and-significance/}}</ref> They claim to possess Almas-1/2/3.<ref name="FDDH"/> *{{flag|Iran}}: Reverse engineered Spike-MR with modifications. Originally captured by Hezbollah during the 2006 Lebanon War and given to Iran.<ref>{{Cite web | title=Hezbollah Reveals Advanced Missile Strikes and Intel Sortie Over Iron Dome Battery - National Security & Cyber - Haaretz.com | url=https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/security-aviation/2024-02-01/ty-article/hezbollah-reveals-advanced-missile-strikes-and-intel-sortie-over-iron-dome-battery/0000018d-6418-d897-a3ef-e7b974bc0000 | access-date=2024-12-21 | website=www.haaretz.com}}</ref> Known to be used by the [[Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Ground Forces]].<ref>https://caspiannews.com/news-detail/iranian-ground-forces-receive-new-weapons-aircraft-2021-7-8-4/</ref>

==References== {{reflist}}

[[Category:Air-to-surface missiles of Iran]] [[Category:Surface-to-surface missiles of Iran]] [[Category:Military equipment introduced in the 2020s]] [[Category:Anti-tank guided missiles of Iran]] [[Category:Iranian military-related lists]] [[Category:Post–Cold War weapons of Iran]]