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Israeli companies involved in the Merkava tank and Namer armored personnel carrier held a seminar in India, Israel's biggest defense customer. Representatives of over 20 Israeli companies involved in the development and production program for the Merkava tank and Namer armored personnel carrier today finished the first seminar ever conducted in India. Dozens of Indian companies attended the seminar. The Ministry of Defense SIBAT - Ministry of Defense International Defense Cooperation Authority sponsored the seminar, in view of the emerging needs of Indian industry in order to prepare for the large-scale procurement of armored vehicles by the Indian army expected...

“If Thy people go out to battle against their enemy, by whatsoever way Thou shalt send them, and they pray unto Hashem toward the city which Thou hast chosen, and toward the house which I have built for Thy name” I Kings 8:44 (The Israel Bible™) The Israeli Defense Force’s (IDF) Battalion 82 recently decided to drop its decades-old Merkava MK 2 tanks and launched into a new world of military technology by adopting the cutting edge Merkava MK 4 tanks in their place, reported The Jerusalem Post. A part of the 7 Armored Brigade, Battalion 82 was formed prior...

Until the severance of the ties between Israel and Turkey, a deal was on the table – a new tank for the Turkish army based on the Israeli developed Merkava main battle tank (MBT). Preliminary talks began and the hopes were high, but then Turkey ceased to be a close ally of Israel and the hostilities between the two governments climbed to new peaks. Now Turkey is trying to do it alone. According to Defense News, a Turkish armored vehicle manufacturer with close ties to the Ankara government announced it would join a future competition for the serial production of...

Based in the Golan Heights, the 7th Armored Brigade has relied on Merkava Mark II tanks for more than 20 years. An Armored Corps brigade based in the North is set to do away with its aged tanks and begin receiving the IDF’s last word in tank warfare, the Merkava Mark IV, equipped with the Trophy antitank- missile shield. Based in the Golan Heights, the 7th Armored Brigade has relied on Merkava Mark II tanks for more than 20 years. Some of the older tanks were manufactured in the late 1970s, but have since undergone a series of technological upgrades....

Fears for future of Merkava tank Manufacturers: Component orders have been on hold since October. 1 February 12 16:52, Yuval Azulai Israel Military Industries Ltd. (IMI) is deeply worried about the future of the Merkava Mark IV tank, which is wholly manufactured in Israel under the auspices of the Ministry of Defense's Tank Development Administration. The ministry has halted orders for components from scores of companies. "Globes" has spoken with several manufacturers in the past few days. They report that orders worth hundreds of millions of shekels have been on hold since October 2011. They added that they have received...

New Designs Suit Tanks For Asymmetric War Apr 22, 2011 By David Eshel, Bill Sweetman Tel Aviv, Washington One trend in warfare and asymmetric combat (mostly urban) is the use of main battle tanks (MBTs) in small tactical assault forces. Tank versus tank fighting is virtually nonexistent. Even in high-intensity combat, tankers prefer firing at targets within visual range—2,000-3,000 meters (6,500-9,800 ft.). Longer-distance targets can be attacked with high-precision missiles directed by unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) and laser designation. Israel is among the countries adapting its MBTs, in this case the Merkava Mk4, for asymmetric combat. Evolving designs will enhance...

In first, Israel blocks Palestinian anti-tank rocket TEL AVIV — For the first time, an Israeli system has intercepted an enemy missile fired toward a main battle tank. The Israeli military said the Trophy Active Protection System (APS) intercepted a Palestinian anti-tank missile in the southern Gaza Strip, Middle East Newsline reported. They said Trophy, also known as Windbreaker, stopped the missile before it struck a Merkava Mk-4 MBT on late March 1. The crew was not injured and the Merkava was not said to have sustained damage. "For the first time during operational activity, the Trophy system, designed to...

As the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) recently announced, the Tropy active defece system for armoured vehicles has again been successfully tested during an exercise of the Israeli Army. Jointly developed by Rafael, Elta and the US company General Dynamics, Trophy is primarily designed for the protection of the Israeli-built Merkava 4 main battle tank (MBT) against threats such as anti-tank rockets and missiles. Providing active protection against incoming threats, the Trophy system (designated Windbreaker or ‘Meil Ruach’ by the IDF) uses sensors to detect threats and counters them by firing a special charge. Trophy has been designed to simultaneously detect...

For the first time, Israel will offer the Merkava Mark 4 tank and the Tiger APC for sale. Both will be sold only to friendly countries, and under strict supervision. In addition, all sales will be coordinated with the United States. The U.S. funds some components of the tank, as well as other Israeli defense projects. Ministry of Defense Director-General Udi Shani said the decision to offer the tanks for sale to allies was “a strategic decision” driven by the need for income to cover military costs. Experts believe sales could bring in $400 million annually.

Next month a Stryker combat vehicle will arrive in the US equipped for testing the Israeli’s Trophy active protection system. The Army has pursued active protection for years, most recently abandoning the Future Combat System’s active protection system developed by Raytheon. We understand at least one M-ATV will also get the radar– directed system. The M-ATV integration is more challenging, given the vehicle’s design. The Israelis have already created a Merkava tank brigade with the Trophy system and plan to install it on all of those tanks. The Israeli system was designed and built by Rafael and is being displayed...

After a 30 year total ban on exports of Israel's famous Merkava tank, the Ministry of Defense will offer its latest model – the Merkava Mark IV – for sale to select buyers for the first time. According to a report in Defense News, the decision is intended to assure that jobs associated with production of the tank stay in Israel, and to provide additional revenue to Israel's military. The Defense Minister recently announced that the Namer (Leopard) heavy armored personal carrier (APC) would soon be produced in the United States, not in Israel, leading to concerns that jobs would...

After 30 years, Israeli tanks head abroad "Defense News": The decision to export the Merkava is an effort to keep jobs in Israel. Ran Dagoni, Washington10 Jun 10 12:59 In a major turnaround in the Ministry of Defense's export policy, after 30 years of a total ban on the export of the Merkava tank, "Defense News" reports that the ministry is now offering the latest version of the tank, the Merkava Mark IV, for sale to select customers. Each deal will be considered on its own merits. "Defense News" says that the decision to export the Merkava is based on...

On a dusty, wind-swept field overlooking the Mediterranean, a small team of researchers is putting the final touches on what Israel says is a major game changer in tank defense: a miniature anti-missile system that detects incoming projectiles and shoots them down before they reach the armored vehicles. If successful, the "Trophy" system could radically alter the balance of power if the country goes to war again against Hezbollah guerrillas in neighboring Lebanon or Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip. Its performance could also have much wider implications as American troops and their Western allies battle insurgents in Iraq and...

Palestinians in the Gaza Strip have managed to penetrate an IDF Merkava tank using a missile and the army is now checking if double headed anti-tank missiles have made their way to Gaza, Channel 10 reported Wednesday. IDF tanks in northern Gaza on Wednesday. Photo: AP According to the report, the missile was fired at an IDF tank on Tuesday and its jet stream passed between the tank's soldiers, who subsequently suffered from smoke inhalation. Details released by the IDF about the incident on Tuesday said that four soldiers had inhaled smoke and suffered minor bruises, but had not stated...

'200 suicide bombers await the Merkava' By JPOST.COM STAFF 200 female suicide bombers are awaiting the Merkava tanks, Hamas senior Dr. Nizar Rian told the Kuweiti Al Jareeda Friday. Hamas says Israel will pay a heavy price Rian also said his organization had more than 50,000 armed fighters, who were endowed with "courage and are able to fight in the relevant territory." Reportedly, Rian was appointed commander of Hamas's military units whose mission is to beat back an expected Israeli ground incursion into the Gaza Strip. "They sleep and walk about armed with explosives, ready to attack Israeli tanks and...

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...

Defense establishment favors Rafael tank protection system Rafael’s system is less advanced than IMI’s Iron Fist, but it is at a more advanced stage of development. Amnon Barzilai 29 Aug 06 17:29 52 IDF Merkava tanks were damaged during the war against Hizbullah in Lebanon. 50 tanks were hit by anti-tank missiles and two were damaged by roadside bombs, according to the Ministry of Defense Merkava tank program administration. One lesson from the war is need to quickly provide Merkava tanks with active protection systems able to destroy incoming missiles. The Merkava tank program administration and IDF Ground Forces Command,...

JERUSALEM – Hezbollah's sophisticated anti-tank missiles are perhaps the guerrilla group's deadliest weapon in Lebanon fighting, with their ability to pierce Israel's most advanced tanks. Experts say this is further evidence that Israel is facing a well-equipped army in this war, not a ragtag militia. Hezbollah has fired Russian-made Metis-M anti-tank missiles and owns European-made Milan missiles, the army confirmed on Friday. In the last two days alone, these missiles have killed seven soldiers and damaged three Israeli-made Merkava tanks – mountains of steel that are vaunted as symbols of Israel's military might, the army said. Israeli media say most...

Missiles neutralizing Israeli tanks By BENJAMIN HARVEY, Associated Press Writer JERUSALEM - Hezbollah's sophisticated anti-tank missiles are perhaps the guerrilla group's deadliest weapon in Lebanon fighting, with their ability to pierce Israel's most advanced tanks. Experts say this is further evidence that Israel is facing a well-equipped army in this war, not a ragtag militia. Hezbollah has fired Russian-made Metis-M anti-tank missiles and owns European-made Milan missiles, the army confirmed on Friday. In the last two days alone, these missiles have killed seven soldiers and damaged three Israeli-made Merkava tanks — mountains of steel that are vaunted as symbols of...

The Merkava IV tank was deployed in operational duty for the first time Wednesday, rolling out with the Menashe Brigade near Jenin. The deployment came a year after the first soldiers of the Merkava IV battalion were drafted and exactly according to schedule, a senior armored officer said. Lt.-Col. Amit Tefler, the G3 (operations officer) of the Armored Corps, said the deployment was a significant "milestone" for the 65-ton, Israeli-built tank. "Today was D-Day for us. We can now say that the fighters and the tanks are officially and operationally ready to enter action," Tefler told The Jerusalem Post. "We're...