[Southack]

The Merkava is a great system. Unlike the old M1's that we have mothballed here in the States, it doesn't really need any upgrades at this point in time.

It would still benefit from having 4 half-tracks instead of just 2 giant full-sized treads (who wants to be immobilized if you lose 1 track, after all?!), but Israel has to be more careful with its tiny military budget than does the U.S., so that upgrade might not be worth the cost to them.

But you'll also notice that Israel isn't really using A-10's or AC-130 Spectre's in combat. Israel's approach to urban combat is entirely different than ours.

Military doctrines that use A-10's and AC-130's in combat would benefit from an M1A10 four-half-tracked, GAU-8 equipped upgrade of old, mothballed M1's.

Whether Israel's military would benefit from such a beast is another thing altogether.

5 Legislative Days Left Until The AWB Expires

[Light Speed]

The auto gattling gun system works.
I believe there is even a thermal detection coupler to this sytem which can see relative as per distance...do whoever is hiding on the other side of a wall.

IDF got some good mileage out of their M-113's with the auto gun during the Lebanon offensive in 1982.

Guess Hamdi just got slaughtered when he stood his ground.
The Blazer box armor add on's to IDF's tanks..plus the *Shredders...sent Hamdi running for Beruit on masse : )

Syrians got some too in the Suf mountains...laughing.....during a documentary from that war..a Lebanese civilian is at an Israeli check point..and wanting to go to his home up thar in the Suf.

"Waddya mean I can't go home....theirs no more Syrians up there....you've killed them all"!

Back to M1A1;
It would make sense to trial some new concepts....
It certainly would give a market reality on the re-engineering and fab.....create jobs : )
What use are the old M1A1's if they park them in storage...especially if they are 105mm gunned.
mod several hundred....part out the usefull to foreign sales or spares as you commented.

Still..I think M1A1 needs to get ready for Mr Top attack missile.
if addressed properly....M1A1 will be vaunted for a long time to come. Be interesting to see what changes occur to M1A1 in the future,
yet....we are likely to read more on the Military's money haggling/manuvering with Congress.

[buwaya]

4 half tracks requires a total redesign of the powertrain. You will have 2x the driven axles. Plus much modification of the hull, controls, etc.

This is not a simple modification of existing chassis. You might as well design a new vehicle.