Israel unveils new ‘5th generation’, ‘lightning’ version of Merkava tank

[dani191]

Israel unveils new ‘5th generation’, ‘lightning’ version of Merkava tank​

The upgrades are focused not on the tank's physical structure, but on incorporating the latest tech and systems.​

By SETH J. FRANTZMANon September 20, 2023 at 12:21 PM

Israeli soldiers stand atop a Merkava IV tank. (IDF)
JERUSALEM — Israel this week unveiled the latest iteration of its Merkava family of tanks, what the Israeli Defense Force calls the ‘Lightning’ version of the Merkava IV.
The advanced tank has been under development and undergoing trials over the last half decade. In a joint statement from Israel’s Ministry of Defense and the IDF, it was presented as a key to the future of the IDF, incorporating the latest sensors, artificial intelligence, networking and active protection system — technological, rather than structural advancements.
“The new era ushered in by the Barak tank is an extraordinary leap and an expression of the technological capabilities that continually enhance and secure the qualitative advantage of the IDF, both in defense and offense,” Israel Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said in a statement Tuesday. The Commander of the 401st Armored Brigade, Col. Benny Aharon said the “absorption of the new tank is a tremendous opportunity to improve operational effectiveness in preparation for the next campaign and a force multiplier for the IDF, the Infantry, and the Armored Corps.”
The tank will be received by the 401st, which is under Israel’s Southern Command and is one of three armored units that make up the armored corps in Israel.
RELATED: Israel’s air force official receives new, secretive Spark UAV, ‘gateway’ to 5th gen drones

The new tech includes the Iron Vision helmet, made by Elbit Systems, which is being fielded for the first time with the new tank. Linked to sensors on the outside of the tank, the system enables the commander, like a fighter pilot, to see “outside” the tank with peripheral vision that is knitted together from sensors and cameras, according to an Elbit official and to a video distributed by the IDF.
The video also shows the tank knitted into a communications network with headquarters and other units. This is enabled through what Elbit calls its Torch C4i system.


SPACE, SPONSORED

Millennium’s Law​

Rapidly delivering small sat constellations for national security space missions.
From MILLENNIUM SPACE SYSTEMS, A BOEING COMPANY
According to Elbit, the tank has image processing capabilities and artificial intelligence which help its sensors sort data and identify objects, so that the driver, gunner or commander can use screens inside the tank to investigate and neutralize threats. Operators use a gun controller that is similar to a joystick or pilot’s flight control stick. It also incorporates Rafael’s Trophy Active Protection System,
Today’s IDF statement says Israel began to conceive of the tank back in 2015 to meet new operational needs. At the time Israel was primarily using tanks in Gaza, usually in urban environments against asymmetric threats, such as militants with RPGs. The tank’s development went through engineering in 2016 and development began in 2018, with technological trials in 2020 and 2021.
RELATED: New US-Bahrain security agreement is light on big changes, but could be a blueprint, analysts say
Israel’s Defense Minister noted that the announcement about the tank comes as Israel celebrates 50 years since the Yom Kippur War, one in which Israel’s army was much more tank-focused. The war also illustrated vulnerabilities to Israeli armor, and the country has learned much since then about protecting its vehicles.

Recommended

Army ‘not declaring victory,’ NGSW fix improves fume and accuracy issues​

“Early returns, again, [are] very positive that our partner Sig Sauer can make the weapons and address some of the small issues,” said head of Army acquisition Doug Bush.
By ASHLEY ROQUE
Like most of Israel’s new large systems, such as the Sa’ar 6 corvette ships that arrived in 2022 and the Eitan APC which is being fielded to the Nahal brigade, the new tank includes technology from Israel’s three large defense companies; Elbit, Rafael and IAI, though the IDF and Ministry of Defense did not specify which technology on the tank came from IAI.

Israel unveils new '5th generation', 'lightning' version of Merkava tank - Breaking Defense

The upgrades are focused not on the tank's physical structure, but on incorporating the latest tech and systems.

breakingdefense.com

 

[buntalanlucu]

they need to upgrade their ANTI DRONE capability to stop cheap drone swarm attacks on their armored assets

 

[alimobin memon]

Yasin 105 says Hi.

 

[retaxis]

Hezzy and hamas don't have million dollar drones or good enough weapons to pose a great risk to tanks.

 

[hussain0216]

Hezzy and hamas don't have million dollar drones or good enough weapons to pose a great risk to tanks.

Hezbollah are well stocked with ATGMs which they use to target Israeli positions

Hamas doesn't however, they have a homemade solution in the Yaseen which is fine but not a real substitute for a true ATGM

 

[Darius77]

More Zionist savage cowards junk to kill Palestinian babies and hospital patients. The evil bastards can't even subdue lightly armed Palestinian freedom fighters in over 40 days now, despite killing 13,000 babies, women and children. What a bunch of pathetic cowardly Jew animals.

 

[HGV]

Hezzy and hamas don't have million dollar drones or good enough weapons to pose a great risk to tanks.

Hezbollah has dual launcher Kornet ATGMs and possibly Iranian Almas ATGMs (copy of Israeli Spike)

 

[Bilal9]

Hezbollah has dual launcher Kornet ATGMs and possibly Iranian Almas ATGMs (copy of Israeli Spike)

Is it Kornet that pre-explodes a small charge to defeat active armor first before detonating the main charge?

How about Metis?

 

[khansaheeb]

Hezzy and hamas don't have million dollar drones or good enough weapons to pose a great risk to tanks.

Is that why Hamas have knocked out 20% of their tanks already?

 

[flameboard]

every day it looks like Israel’s capabilities are like Indians capabilities… great on paper but all fluff in action

 

[retaxis]

every day it looks like Israel’s capabilities are like Indians capabilities… great on paper but all fluff in action

Hezzy and hamas need better weapons even the cheap ones that Russia uses to knock out tanks with those flying tank/artillery shells is good enough. Until proven otherwise, Israel has defeated the Arabs over and over again in war so they deserve the respect over someone like India who gets spanked when they mess with someone their own size

 

[Muhammed45]

Hezzy and hamas don't have million dollar drones or good enough weapons to pose a great risk to tanks.

Hezbollah is stronger than a few of east EU countries combined according to NethanYabu.

Iran has given everything from airdefense missile systems to ballistic missiles with pinpoint accuracy.

They can target warships from 150-200 KM away from Lebanese shores. They have an special unit for recognizing and neutralizing western submarines, despite the low range, it still is a great capability for them.

If Arab arseholes were not blocking Gaza, then today Hamas and PIJ would be firing Fajr-5 rockets at Israeli as of today.

Hezbollah is stronger than your imagination. One of their MLRS

 

[retaxis]

Hezbollah is stronger than a few of east EU countries combined according to NethanYabu.

Iran has given everything from airdefense missile systems to ballistic missiles with pinpoint accuracy.

They can target warships from 150-200 KM away from Lebanese shores. They have an special unit for recognizing and neutralizing western submarines, despite the low range, it still is a great capability for them.

If Arab arseholes were not blocking Gaza, then today Hamas and PIJ would be firing Fajr-5 rockets at Israeli as of today.

Hezbollah is stronger than your imagination. One of their MLRS

I guess we will never know unless Hezzy takes some land and rubs out some more Israelis. They certainly are more powerful than 2006 when i read the newspaper in highschool year 12 but Israel got bunkers and Israel got manpower too.

 

[Muhammed45]

I guess we will never know unless Hezzy takes some land and rubs out some more Israelis. They certainly are more powerful than 2006 when i read the newspaper in highschool year 12 but Israel got bunkers and Israel got manpower too.

Of course the IDF has much better equipment than Hazbollah. That is a fact. Unfortunately, they always have airsuperiority thanks to uncle Sam But the fighting spirit of Lebanese is outstanding. At least, they can take out an squadron of F16 before completely resorting to asymetric warfare.

 

[buntalanlucu]

I think this upgrade is before the success of Russian Drones destroying Ukr NAZI tanks from the western arsenal, Now that every nation can (for the cheap) make drones to destroy million of dollar tank , i doubt israel will go ahead modernizing their merkava Mark 4 into this. IDF have no depth and no budget / personel to modernize their ground troops. Even their hyped up Iron Dome failed hard stopping hamas cheap rockets.

against hezbollah ? IDF have no chance