Munitions

M329 APAM 120 mm tank projectile

Also known as
  • APAM
  • APAM-MP-T
  • Calanit
  • Kalanit
  • XM329

The M329 APAM, also reported as Hatzav and known as Calanit/Kalanit, is an Israeli 120 mm multipurpose tank projectile for NATO-standard smoothbore guns. Built around programmable airburst and multi-purpose effects for urban direct fire, it appeared in IDF service before Operation Protective Edge and later Gaza investigations tied M329 evidence to the 2023 Israel-Hamas War.

M329 APAM 120 mm tank projectile, 120 mm multipurpose tank projectile, Munitions
Image source: M329 Calanit shell photo

Role in Conflicts

2014 Gaza War
Fire Support
Side
Israel

Used by Israel during the 2014 Gaza War; contemporary reporting said the IDF Armored Corps began using the Hatzav M329 APAM-MP-T operationally during Operation Protective Edge in Gaza.

2023 Israel-Hamas War
Fire Support
Side
Israel

Used by Israeli tank crews in the 2023 Israel-Hamas War; the Washington Post assessed that the first projectile in the Aug. 25, 2025 Nasser Hospital strike was probably an M329, and OSMP separately catalogued M329 APAM evidence in its Israel and Gaza collection.

Role details
Profile / Specs

Profile

Origin
Israel
Type
120 mm multipurpose tank projectile
Service note
2000s-present
Designer
IMI Systems
Designed
2000s
Produced
2000s-present
Number built
Not publicly stated

Specifications

Caliber
120 mm
Type
APAM-MP-T multi-purpose tank round
Compatibility
NATO 120 mm smoothbore guns; reported for Merkava Mk 3 and Mk 4 service
Fuze
Programmable electronic fuze with airburst mode
Submunitions
Six explosive submunitions
Reported range
Up to 5 km in Hatzav reporting
Variants
  • XM329 (development designation)
  • Calanit / Kalanit
  • Hatzav
Tank Platforms

Source coverage places the M329/Hatzav in IDF 120 mm smoothbore service and describes Merkava Mk 3 and Merkava Mk 4 integration, while the NDIA presentation frames XM329 as a NATO 120 mm smoothbore projectile.

Firing weaponWeapon typeFiring evidence
Merkava Mk 3 main battle tank, Main battle tank, TanksMerkava Mk 3 main battle tankMerkava 3 tank platform

The Hatzav service report says the shell was installed in all tanks in use in Israeli combat units, including Merkava Mark 3 tanks.

Sources: Hatzav tank shell enters Gaza service - Israel National News

Merkava Mk 4 main battle tank, Main battle tank, TanksMerkava Mk 4 main battle tankMerkava 4 tank platform

The Hatzav service report says the shell was installed in all tanks in use in Israeli combat units, including Merkava Mark 4 tanks.

Sources: Hatzav tank shell enters Gaza service - Israel National News

Broader compatibility

The NATO 120 mm smoothbore language is a gun-class compatibility statement; conflict-use rows remain limited to sources that directly identify M329 or Hatzav use.

Sources: APAM 120 XM329 Presentation

Design Notes

The 2007 NDIA presentation frames XM329 as a multi-purpose tank round for urban combat, with a programmable electronic fuze and a six-submunition payload. Later Hatzav reporting emphasized delayed-action effects for enemy personnel in buildings and field fortifications.

FeatureDocumented detail
RoleAPAM-MP-T multi-purpose tank round.
FuzingProgrammable electronic fuze with airburst mode.
PayloadSix explosive submunitions.
CompatibilityNATO 120 mm smoothbore guns, with Israeli reporting naming Merkava Mk 3 and Mk 4 service.
Effect focusUrban direct fire against personnel in structures, trenches, and open terrain.

The compatibility line is class-level context from the presentation and Israeli reporting, not a model-by-model firing log.

Timeline

M329 APAM 120 mm tank projectile Key Events

  1. NDIA presentation introduces XM329

    The NDIA presentation described APAM 120 XM329 as a multi-purpose tank round for military operations in urban terrain and said it was used with NATO 120 mm smoothbore guns.

    Sources: APAM 120 XM329 Presentation

  2. Calanit wins the Israel Defense Prize

    Reuters reporting on the prize said the Armored Corps had been using the Calanit shell for about two months, making the round a public IDF subject well before the current Gaza war.

    Sources: IDF tank shell wins Israel Defense Prize - Ynet News

  3. Hatzav enters operational Gaza service

    Israel Defense reported that the IDF Armored Corps began using the IMI Hatzav shell (M329 APAM-MP-T) operationally during Operation Protective Edge in the Gaza Strip.

    Sources: New Weapon Systems made their Debut Appearance - Israel Defense, Hatzav tank shell enters Gaza service - Israel National News

  4. Nasser Hospital strike investigation

    The Washington Post's investigation into the Nasser Hospital strike in Gaza said the first projectile was probably an M329, while OSMP separately maintained M329 APAM entries in its Israel and Gaza collection.

    Sources: Nasser Hospital strike investigation, OSMP M329 APAM model

Media

M329 APAM 120 mm tank projectile Images

M329 APAM 120 mm tank projectile, 120 mm multipurpose tank projectile, Munitions - view 1
Source: IMI 120 mm shells photo
Related Weapon Systems
M339 120 mm multipurpose tank projectile, 120 mm HE-MP-T tank cartridge, MunitionsMunitionsM339 120 mm multipurpose tank projectile120 mm HE-MP-T tank cartridgeThe M339 is an Israeli 120 mm HE-MP-T tank cartridge, also known as Kalanit or Hatzav, developed by Israel Military Industries for urban direct fire from Merkava and other NATO-standard smoothbore tank guns. Elbit Systems describes the round as a programmable, multi-purpose cartridge for bunkers, light armored vehicles, infantry, and urban structures, while Gaza and Lebanon investigations have identified M339-family remnants in Israeli tank-fire incidents.
M322 or M338 120 mm APFSDS-T tank projectile, 120 mm APFSDS-T tank-gun cartridge, MunitionsMunitionsM322 or M338 120 mm APFSDS-T tank projectile120 mm APFSDS-T tank-gun cartridgeThe M322 and M338 are Israeli 120 mm APFSDS-T tank-gun cartridges in Elbit Systems' NATO-standard smoothbore ammunition line. Elbit separates M322 as a second-generation NC-NG-propellant round and M338 as a third-generation LOVA-propellant round, both using tungsten-alloy penetrators for L44/L55 120 mm guns; OSMP identified one Israeli APFSDS-T round in the Israel and Gaza 2023-2026 collection as either M322 or M338.
MATADOR, Disposable shoulder-fired anti-armor recoilless weapon, Infantry WeaponsInfantry WeaponsMATADORDisposable shoulder-fired anti-armor recoilless weaponMATADOR, also marketed in the RGW 90 family, is a 90 mm disposable shoulder-fired recoilless weapon developed with Singaporean, German, and Israeli participation for anti-armor, breaching, and anti-structure missions. Singapore's version emphasized confined-space firing, a HEAT/HESH selectable effect, and wall-breaching performance for built-up areas, while Dynamit Nobel Defence's RGW 90 line includes dual-mode, anti-structure, long-range multipurpose, smoke, illumination, and training variants. The system is documented in Singapore service, in Israeli Matador WB use during the 2008 Gaza War, in German-funded RGW 90 deliveries to Ukraine, and in Israeli use during urban fighting in Gaza after October 2023.
M150 155 mm hexachloroethane smoke projectile, 155 mm HC smoke projectile, ArtilleryArtilleryM150 155 mm hexachloroethane smoke projectile155 mm HC smoke projectileThe M150 is an Israeli 155 mm hexachloroethane smoke projectile from Elbit Systems, built for screening, obscuration, and spotting without white phosphorus. Elbit's product sheet lists five HC smoke canisters, about three minutes of effect, and a NATO NSN, while ARES traces the design to the M483A1 carrier projectile and compares it with M825-series white-phosphorus smoke rounds. Open-source investigations identify M150 rounds in Gaza during the May 2021 escalation and the 2023 Israel-Hamas War.

Sources

APAM 120 XM329 PresentationPublisher: National Defense Industrial Association | Note: Supports the M329/XM329 background, APAM naming, 120 mm NATO smoothbore compatibility, IDF requirements, programmable electronic fuze context, and urban-terrain use. | Accessed: 2026-07-01Nasser Hospital strike investigationPublisher: The Washington Post | Note: Supports 2023 Israel-Hamas War direct conflict-use; Israeli tank fire used the M329 in Gaza during the Nasser Hospital strike. | Accessed: 2026-07-01OSMP M329 APAM modelPublisher: Open Source Munitions Portal | Note: 2023 Israel-Hamas War: OSMP's M329 APAM model page links M329 APAM entries to the Israel and Gaza 2023-2026 collection and provides model-level identification context. | Accessed: 2026-07-01OSMP 640 M329 APAM Gaza entryPublisher: Open Source Munitions Portal | Note: 2023 Israel-Hamas War: OSMP catalogued a reported M329 APAM tank-gun projectile entry in the Gaza Strip dated January 17, 2024. | Accessed: 2026-07-01M329 Calanit shell photoPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports image provenance and licensing for the M329 Calanit photograph. | Accessed: 2026-07-01IMI 120 mm shells photoPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports image provenance and licensing for the IMI 120 mm shells photograph that includes the M329 label in the file description. | Accessed: 2026-07-01IDF tank shell wins Israel Defense Prize - Ynet NewsPublisher: Ynet News / Reuters | Note: Supports the Calanit designation and Reuters reporting that the Armored Corps had been using the shell for about two months before the 2011 Israel Defense Prize award. | Accessed: 2026-07-01New Weapon Systems made their Debut Appearance - Israel DefensePublisher: Israel Defense | Note: 2014 Gaza War: supports Hatzav/M329 APAM-MP-T operational fielding by the IDF Armored Corps during Operation Protective Edge in the Gaza Strip. | Accessed: 2026-07-01Hatzav tank shell enters Gaza service - Israel National NewsPublisher: Israel National News | Note: 2014 Gaza War: supports the Hatzav shell's reported operational entry during Operation Protective Edge, Merkava Mk 3 and Mk 4 service, delayed-action urban effects, and reported range. | Accessed: 2026-07-01Elbit Systems Completes the Acquisition of IMI SystemsPublisher: Elbit Systems | Note: Supports the IMI Systems to Elbit Systems manufacturer transition relevant to the current manufacturer field. | Accessed: 2026-07-01