The Merkava MK-4
Posted on 09/28/2006 8:51:46 PM PDT by sukhoi-30mki
Merkava tank production to stop within four years.
Leaders of the project decided that the benefits do not justify the cost of the product.
Amnon Barzilai 28 Sep 06 16:21
The IDF has decided that the Merkava tank production line will be shut down within four years. "Globes" reports that the decision to stop production of the tank, one of the most expensive projects in the history of Israel's military industries and the pride of the army, was made shortly before the outbreak of the war in Lebanon. Leaders of the project decided that the benefits do not justify the cost of the product. During the fighting in Lebanon, the Merkava tanks sustained serious damage from antitank rockets fired by Hizbullah militants. The tank, which has been boasted as having the best protection in the world, and which was designed for classic tank on tank battles, was not impervious to the rockets. 500 rockets were fired at Israeli tanks, 47 Merkava tanks were hit (two more were hit by roadside bombs) and 33 IDF soldiers were killed.
Senior officials both inside and out of the military are critical of the tank's function in the war and of its economic necessity over the years. They question whether Israel should continue to invest in tanks as the central ground forces player. Several defense establishment figures believe that the tank is no longer appropriate for the modern battlefield.
The prestigious project, which began in 1969 as an idea by Major General Israel Tal and has continued ever since, has cost about $7.5 billion dollars according to an IDF assessment while Ministry of Finance officials estimate its cost closer to $10 billion. Thousands of workers across the country are employed in production of the tank and its systems, and are liable to be hurt by the cessation of the project.
The Merkava MK-4
The Merkava is a huge source of National Pride for the Israeli's. They probably will end up buying future tanks from western powers. The only tank I think that is better is the Abrams. They may not need to keep producing individual units because they will have plenty for years to come, in order to do this they would have to keep some of the factories open to make parts and upgrades.
Bad move. What if the West refuses to manufacture Tanks for Israel?
Merkava has important specific features for war as fought
by the IDF, including extra water storage and a access door for ground troops/egress. Possibly they could do an
offshore build or modify an existing Western tank.
UK Chieftain would be the closest equivalent. Israel
can't afford the turbine's fuel consumption.
This article starts off as "The IDF has decided", but that really means "The politically appointed cronies of Kadima appointed to senior IDF posts were commanded to decide that the merkava tank production line will be shut down within four years."
If this decision was made before the Lebanon affiar, it means the Kadima partners were demanding the Merkava appropriations for domestic social spending, and Olmert and Kadima were more than willing to gut the increasingly religious military of funding to secure the Knesset votes of the minor coalition parties.
Olmert has the highest unfavorable ratings of any politician in Israel's history, including Arab MKs. He still hasn't resigned, he plans to take down Israel if that's what necessary to cling onto his personal power. Gutting th emilitary for bread and circuses didn't give him a moment of pause.
Its a badass because it can act as a troop carrier and a traditional tank.
Unfortunately, Hezbollah/Syria is being sold highly effective anti-tank missiles by the Russians and its only a matter of time before Iran gets a truck load smuggled into the gaza strip.
Israel should still keep some of these around well maintained if they ever need them, but until there is an effective way to stop the weapons sold to terrorist regimes by the russians, these tanks are sitting ducks out in the battle field.
>>>not impervious to the rockets. 500 rockets were fired at Israeli tanks, 47 Merkava tanks were hit
Somewhat misleading as this story implies a massacre of Israeli armor. I read a prior story a month or so giving a breakdown on the figures.
By memory, it said of the tanks hit, about 20 had their armor pierced. Only 5 were write offs. For the number of tracks engaged, this is a lesser % of of tanks lost or knocked out when hit as compared to previous Israeli-Lebanon combat.
Did anybody ever suggest the Merkeva WAS "impervious" ?
Nope-what you read was the total tank inventory,.The M-60 variants & British chieftains were their workhorses till the mid 90s.The Merkava started production in the early 80s & about 1,500 have been produced so far.
I think you are referring to the Challenger-the Chieftan is decades old.Anyway,I think the German Leopard-2 would come closer,given that all major tanks incl. the Merkava,Abrams & Challenger have technology from that tank.The Germans are reportedly plannning to integrate the Israeli LAHAT anti-tank missile to their the Leos!!
Must read British Centurions,not chieftains!!!
"Several defense establishment figures believe that the tank is no longer appropriate for the modern battlefield."
This idea seems to pop up every generation or so. I remember similar criticisms during the development of the M1 Abrams back in the 1980s - no tank could survive on a modern battlefield, etc.
The number of tanks lost would have been far greater if it were older variants or Russian tanks!!The Merk did pretty well given the fact that the Israeli government didnt really have a clue of what the objectives of the war should be ,tying up the IDFs hands.Anyway with advances in Explosive reactive armour,active defence systems as well as customisation of tanks for urban combat,the tank still has relevance.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.