As part of the $1.5 billion deal, the Israeli government is boosting production of the Merkava tank.
The face of Israel’s armored corps is undoubtedly the Merkava main battle tank (MBT). The domestically produced armored vehicle has served the Jewish state for nearly half a century, continuously proving its worth in the frequent combat operations the nation engages in against its hostile neighbors. The Merkava’s particular role in the recent Israel-Hamas war in Gaza has led Israel’s Ministry of Defense to approve a deal to accelerate the platform’s production rates. As part of the $1.5 billion deal, the Israeli government is investing in the Merkava to facilitate the country’s security in conjunction with the Israel Defense Forces’ (IDF) slew of top-tier air defense capabilities.
As detailed by the MoD, “Under the acceleration programme, the ministry will increase the armoured vehicle inventory while boosting production rates of the Merkava Mk 4 Barak tanks, Namer APCs [armoured personnel carriers], and Eitan wheeled APCs, including those equipped with a turreted 30 mm cannon.” The statement added that “The decision to acquire additional Israeli-developed tanks and APCs stems directly from the advanced armoured vehicles’ combat success and supports a comprehensive initiative to enhance the IDF’s manoeuvring capabilities.”
Introducing the Merkava
Conceptualized in the immediate aftermath of Israel’s founding, the Merkava platform was designed to be able to go up against its Soviet-made counterparts operated by Egypt and Syria at the time. While Israel initially intended to procure and locally manufacture the UK’s Chieftain tank series, Britain’s withdrawal from the deal forced the country to look inward to ensure its own security. The Merkava is certainly recognized as one of Israel’s most significant local innovations. From its Chobham armor to its unique layout with a reversed engine transmission, the Israeli tank is considered to be one of the most effective MBTs of its kind in service today. The Merkava also sports a unique layout, featuring the turret closer to the rear, unlike many of its foreign counterparts.
The original Merkava 1 and 2 variants were designed with the 105mm IMI M64 gun (a license-built iteration of the M68). As new Merkava variants have been introduced over the years, the MBT’s ordnance and protection measures have only increased. Perhaps the most important innovation incorporated into newer Merkava models is the Trophy Active Protection System. This unparalleled defense program enables the tank to better defend against anti-tank missiles and rocket-propelled grenade attacks, improving survivability for its operators. The IDF introduced its fifth-generation “Barak” variant in 2023, which is decked out with even more sophisticated components. The Ministry of Defense detailed that these tanks will “strengthen the capabilities of detecting enemies and will enable fighting against an enemy with a reduced signature and in all combat scenarios, on the current and future battlefield, against the entirety of threats that exist for the maneuvering force.”
Considering the Merkava’s solid reputation as a battlefield defender and its continued role in the Gaza enclave, Israel’s investment in furthering the platform makes sense.
About the Author: Maya Carlin
Maya Carlin, National Security Writer with The National Interest, is an analyst with the Center for Security Policy and a former Anna Sobol Levy Fellow at IDC Herzliya in Israel. She has by-lines in many publications, including The National Interest, Jerusalem Post, and Times of Israel. You can follow her on Twitter: @MayaCarlin. Carlin has over 1,000 articles published over the last several years on various defense issues.
Image: Elyasaf Jehuda / Shutterstock.com
