Breaking news
Israeli Army has developed a new armoured personnel carrier based on Merkava Mk 2 MBT 13010152.
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Defence & Security News - Israel
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| Israeli Army has developed a new armoured personnel carrier based on Merkava Mk 2 MBT. | |||
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According the Ynetnews website, the Israeli Defense Force (IDF) is developing a new family of armored personnel carriers based (APC) on older Merkava Mk 2 main battle tanks’ hulls to reduce cost. The Merkava Mk 2 is out of service in the Israeli Army and replaced by Merkava Mk 3 and Merkava Mk 4.
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 The new Israeli army APC based on Merkava Mk 2 main battle tank |
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According to some Internet website, the new APC was tested by Israeli Army during a military exercise that was held in the spring in the Jordan River valley.
The prototype was first fielded by the 7th Brigade's command staff in an exercise involving several units from the 36th division. The first reactions from the field were very positive, and even the Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkott and his deputy Yair Golan, who visited the exercise, were please with the vehicle's performance. The new APC is based on the Merkava Mk 2 chassis, many of which have been phased out within the framework of the IDF's transition to the advanced Merkava Mk.4 main battle tanks, which are now equipped with the "Trophy" active protection system. The tanks later underwent a thorough facelift; their cannons and turrets were removed, along with spaces used to store tank shells inside the hull. The result is a heavy armored personnel carrier, which outperforms the lighter M113 APC, which is currently in widespread use throughout the military. The IDF plans to manufacture additional vehicles based on the hull of the Merkava Mk 2, of which hundreds have been phased out of active service. The military has placed an initial emphasis on supplying the vehicles to specific support forces, including medical, logistical, and rescue units. The Merkava Mk 2 entered production in 1982 with first production vehicle being completed in August 1983. Main improvements over the original production model include a layer of special armour on the front and sides of the turret, special armour on the hull front, the 60 mm Soltam Systems mortar is mounted in the left side of the turret roof and can be loaded and fired from within the turret, and the steel skirts that protect the suspension are backed by special armour.
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 Israeli Merkava Mk 2 main battle tank |
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