The Merkava tank, a name that means "chariot" in Hebrew, represents the core strength of the IDF's armored forces. Development began in 1970, and in 1979, the first generation of the Merkava I tank entered service. After several versions of improvements, as of 2023, the Merkava Mark IV has become its latest version. In the Lebanese War in 1982, Merkava made its debut on the battlefield.
The development of this tank originated from the combat vehicles and armored combat vehicles department of the Israeli Ministry of Defense. Most of its components are manufactured in Israel, reflecting the country's independent R&D and production capabilities. Merkava's design philosophy is to provide maximum protection for the crew. Due to this, its frontal armor was especially strengthened, while the engine was located in the front of the tank hull, which differed from many traditional tank designs.
The design requirements for the Merkava tank encompassed a number of aspects, including rapid repair of combat damage, improved survivability, ensuring economy, and enhanced off-road performance. The turret parts are laid out farther back than other main battle tanks, mainly due to the front-loading of the engine. This layout not only provided additional protection for the crew and counteracted the impact of incoming frontal shells, but also created more space in the rear of the tank for the main compartment personnel, such as the driver, increased storage capacity, and provided a rear entrance for quick entry and exit under enemy fire.
This feature of the Merkava tank allows it to not only charge on the battlefield, but also transform into a medical rescue vehicle, a front-line command and control station, and even an infantry combat vehicle. The **-style door design at the rear of the house provides protection from the top when loading and unloading goods and personnel, further enhancing its battlefield adaptability.
Looking back at its development history, the birth of the Merkava tank is closely linked to the British Chieftain tank program. At the end of the 60s of the 20th century, Israel cooperated with Britain in the design of the Chieftain tank, but the British finally decided to give it to Israel's enemies - Arab countries. This decision prompted Israel to begin to develop tanks independently, and it was against this background that the Merkava tank was born.
With the outbreak of the Suez crisis and the push of General Tal, Israel accelerated the process of developing tanks. In 1974, the preliminary design was completed and the prototype was built. After a series of tests, the Terkhashomo Military Plant began to devote itself to the development and production of new tanks in full. In 1977, the Merkava tank made its debut in the International Defense Review magazine, followed by its official ** publication in the US Armed Forces Magazine on May 4, 1977. Finally, in December 1979, the IDF officially adopted this epoch-making tank, the Merkava.
The main contractor of the Merkava tank with the ** chain
Major Integrators
Israel Military Industry (IMI).: Responsible for the system integration of the main components of the Merkava tank.
Tank assembly
Israeli Ordnance Corps: Undertake the final assembly of the Merkava tank.
Made locally
More than 90% of Merkava IV tank parts are manufactured locally by the Israeli defense industry.
**Chain Participating Enterprises
imi: Production of 105 mm and 120 mm guns and their ammunition.
tgl sp industries ltd: Responsible for the development and production of load wheels.
urdan industries: Assemble and build the hull, drivetrain and powertrain, and turret components.
soltam: Manufacture of 60-mm built-in mortars.
elta: Design and manufacture of electronic sensors and infrared optical instruments.
elbit: Provides ballistic computers, fire control systems (FCS), and electric turret and barrel control systems.
tadiran:** Cockpit air conditioning, crew walkie-talkie and radio equipment.
EL-OP, ELISRA, and Astronautics: Implementation of optical and laser warning systems.
rafael advanced defense systems: Construction and installation of the Rafael Suspended ** Station (R-OWS) and the Trophy active protection system.
l-3 communications combat propulsion systems: Production of German MTU MT883 1500 hp diesel engine power unit and Renk RK325 transmission.
Motorola: Provide Tadiran communication encryption system.
DuPont: Supplies HAGOR with materials for NOMEX, ballistic and fireproof.
Russian military-industrial complex: Design KMT-4 5 anti-mine drum and ABK-3 bulldozer blade, now produced by URDAN.
fn herstal: Offer 762 mm (mag 58) and 127 mm (m2) coaxial and mount machine guns.
Caterpillar: Assist in the design of the track system.
bental industries: As a subsidiary of TAT Technologies, it produces brushless motors used in the Mark IV turret and barrel control system.
The main features of the Merkava tank
Firepower configuration
Mark I and Mark II: Armed with a 105 mm IMI M64 gun, which is an authorized production version of the M68.
Mark III, Mark III Dor Dalet Baz Kassag and Mark IV: Equipped with an IMI 120 mm smoothbore gun, compatible with a wide range of Western 120 mm tank shells and Lahat anti-tank missiles.
Machine gun configuration: All models are equipped with two 762 mm turret top machine gun and one coaxial machine gun.
Additional firepower: 60-mm mortars are used to fire smoke grenades or suppress infantry anti-tank groups.
Remote control**: Equipped with a remote control. 50 heavy machine guns, parallel to the main gun and controlled from inside the turret.
Maneuverability
Engine: 1500 hp turbocharged diesel engine with MTU design, manufactured by the L-3 communications combat propulsion system.
Maximum speedThe Mark IV reaches a top speed of 64 km/h on the road.
Overview of serial models
Merkava Mark I
Duration of service: Since 1979.
Design Fundamentals: The original design of the Thal, optimized for mass production.
Equipment: 105 mm M64 L71A main gun, two 762-mm machine gun and a 60-mm mortar.
Performance: Excellent performance in the war of Jomkipur and the rugged terrain of the Golan Heights.
Improvements: After the Lebanese war, several adjustments were made, including the removal of a 60-mm mortar into the body of the vehicle and the installation of a chain mesh belt.
Merkava Mark II
Duration of service: First put into use in April 1983.
Optimize the orientation: Optimized for urban warfare and low-intensity conflicts.
Changes: The 60-mm mortar was redesigned and moved to the body, an automatic transmission was installed, fuel reserves were increased, an anti-rocket mesh belt was equipped and a slight improvement of the fire control system was carried out.
Variants: Mark IIB, Mark IIC, and Mark IIID, with the addition of a thermal imaging optical sight, turret top armor, and modular composite armor, respectively.
Planning for the future: It is planned to convert the old Mark II tank into a heavy armored personnel carrier.
Merkava Mark III
Launch timeDecember 1989.
Downtime: 2003.
Quantity: As of 2016, it is the largest number of front-line service tanks in the IDF.
Major upgrades: Drivetrain, powertrain, ** and electronic systems.
Features:: Using the self-developed IMI 120 mm gun. The total weight of the tank increased to 65 tons, and the maximum cruising speed was increased to 60 km h. Turret independent movement design. External two-way**, upgraded ammunition storage containers, laser designators, and the KASAG modular armor system.
mark iii baz
Launch time: 1995.
Updated content: NBC protection system, air conditioning system, improved protection performance and modular composite armor.
mark iiid dor-dalet
Features:: Introducing Caterpillar-manufactured, Israel-designed upgraded tracks. Equipped with Rafael's anti-aircraft ** station. Independent, fully stable, panoramic commander's sighting system. Advanced thermal imaging system for gunners and commanders.
Merkava Mark IV
Development time: Started in 1999 and production started in 2004.
Armor features: Detachable modular armor inherited from the Mark IIID, including top and V-shaped belly armor packs.
Turret design: The first contemporary tank without a crew hatch on top of the turret to reduce the risk of being penetrated by ATGMS.
Ammunition storage: Stored in a separate refractory tank to reduce the probability of detonating ammunition in the event of a fire in the tank.
Other features:: Turret electric drive. Inherited from the IAI L**i program for body shaping, exterior absorbing coatings and engine heat mixing. With a 120-mm gun, it fires a wide range of ammunition, including high-explosive anti-tank and armor-piercing shells. Equipped with a larger 12The 7-mm machine gun is used in anti-vehicle combat. Adopt Israeli-designed TSAWS track system. Equipped with a new fire control system El-Op Knight Mark 4. It is equipped with the Israeli Elbit Systems BMS battle management system. Modular armor for quick repair and replacement. High-performance air-conditioning system and toilet facilities.
These upgrades and improvements make the Merkava Mark IV an advanced tank with high survivability and firepower performance for the needs of the modern battlefield.
Merkava Mark 4M (MK 4M) Windbreaker
As an upgrade to the Merkava Mark 4, the MK 4M introduced the Trophy Active Protection System (APS) and officially named it "Meil Ruach". This improvement allowed the MK 4M to begin mass production in 2009 and quickly enter combat in 2011. In particular, during border protection operations in 2014, the Trophy APS successfully intercepted a wide range of enemy fire, including RPGs and anti-tank missiles, proving its superior protection capabilities.
mk.4m 400 windbreaker
As mkA mid-term upgrade version of 4M, MKThe 4M 400 has been further optimized in terms of technology and performance to become the MK4m and mkTransitional version between 4 barak.
Merkava Mark 4 Barak
In 2023, the Merkava Mark 4 Barak entered service and represents the latest technological achievements of the family of tanks. Barak was equipped with an upgraded version of the Trophy APS and introduced a day and night camera with a 360-degree view. The commander is also equipped with a fighter-style head-up display, providing a more intuitive and efficient interface for battlefield command. In addition, the tank integrates electronic warfare capabilities, advanced processing systems, and direct energy systems, allowing it to counter the threat of drones and cruise missiles.
Iron Vision helmet aiming display system
Another highlight of Barak is the application of the Iron Vision headset aiming augmented reality system. The system provides a 360-degree virtual reality view of the crew through a high-resolution camera, significantly enhancing battlefield awareness and decision-making.
Advantages and disadvantages evaluation
Pros:
Advanced protection system: Trophy APS significantly increases the survivability of the tank, effectively intercepting a variety of enemy fire.
Highly integrated battlefield awareness systemThe Iron Vision helmet-mounted aiming display system provides the crew with unprecedented battlefield visibility and decision support.
Multifunctional combat capabilities: Electronic warfare capabilities and direct energy systems allow tanks to respond to diverse battlefield threats.
Cons:
After all, Israel is a small country, its industrial system is not perfect, it is not leading in metallurgy and composite materials, and it cannot make the world's top composite armor, and the United States, Britain and France have refused to provide composite armor technology and products for export. If the material is not good, it can only be counted, and it has to add more tens of millimeters in front of the main battle tank, so that Merkava protection accounts for nearly 7 percent of the vehicle's weight.
The Yasin 105 rocket, which is modeled after RPG7VR, used by Hamas, has a vertical penetration depth of 750, which Merkava simply cannot resist.
Even so, the frontal protection of the Merkava body is still not able to resist today's first-class armor-piercing**, so the sword goes sideways, so that the front of the engine not only increases the distance spacing, but also acts as a layer of armor, and can also add an additional layer of compartment armor, and then uses a layer of composite armor turret to cover the top of the front crew compartment of the hull, so that the front and top of the front crew compartment are almost completely covered under the turret and engine.
The track is being repaired, and it can be seen that its front active wheel protection armor is very thin.
The low turret and tricky angles make it easy for horizontally incoming munitions to ricochet, deflect, or get stuck in the gap between the turret and the body, known as shell traps, making it difficult to hit or break through. During combat, Merkava is also often hidden in dirt slopes or fortifications, with only its head exposed, and its body is protected by cover, which is one of the reasons why it is difficult to destroy.
The Merkava IV composite armor covers the profile, which seems to be very thick, but in fact the middle is a sandwich hollow, and the non-section is the appearance of the module shield.
Merkava MK4 front and rear compartment protection.
The front of the body is covered with composite armor, the engine is still located in the front compartment of the body, followed by the bulkhead armor steel plate, and under it is the fuel tank. Not only that, in order to save the limited space in the front of the body, Merkava also designed the hollow sandwich of the partition armor on the front side of the body as an auxiliary fuel tank, and also opened a large grille area on the right front side of the body as an outlet for the engine and exhaust and heat dissipation.
Merkava right front engine exhaust grille.
Schematic diagram of the depth penetration of Merkava II armor protection distribution KE - kinetic armor-piercing shell HEAT - high-explosive armor-piercing projectile, data is unofficial.
Merkava revealed very little armor data, according to **or**, the mainstream version of the thickness of the frontal armor of its hull is equivalent to more than 100 mm of homogeneous armor, under which is the engine compartment, the fuel tank is directly behind the front plate of the tank about 100 mm thick, and the armor partition wall is about 100 mm thick. If the composite armor, fuel tank, engine and the armored partition wall inside are included, the thickness of the driver's position protection is equivalent to 300-400 mm of the penetration depth of the shell-piercing shell, and about 400-500 mm on the right side, which is inferior by modern standards. This combination is very effective against thermal warheads such as RPGs, but it is easier to penetrate high-explosive armor-piercing projectiles with tandem warheads such as shell-piercing shells and cornets, but in any case, the engine will not be saved.
The thickness of the front armor plate can be clearly seen from this **.
The dense protective armor is arranged on the front side of the turret and the body, giving the Merkava turret the appearance of a large size, but the space inside the turret is relatively low and narrow. There are only 10 rounds of ammunition in the turret magazine, and it has the same anti-detonation and pressure relief design as the M1, and the remaining 38 spare ammunition can only be loaded in the crew compartment. Although Merkava tried its best to increase its armor to avoid penetration, the rear, which was very weak due to too much attention to the front protection, would inevitably cause a heavy blow if the rear compartment was penetrated and ignited ammunition**.
Awkward and silly 2-in-1 design: Merkava tail hatch and fireproof cover for spare ammo storage.
The height of the American M1 main battle tank is 244 meters, Merkava height 2At 66 meters, the Merkava turret is shorter than the M1, which means that the Merkava is relatively tall, and the advantage is that it can be used as an armored personnel carrier, carrying 5-6 infantrymen, but the spare ammunition needs to be removed, so that only 5-10 shells stored in the turret can be used, which is indeed a bit embarrassing.
Two soldiers mounted side skirt armored modules, it was clear that the armor should be hollow, otherwise it would be difficult to lift up. The vehicle height is also visible at a glance.
The height of the body is not only vulnerable to attack but also increases the side protection area, making it difficult to achieve both thickness and area under limited armor load. Due to the front engine position, the rear of the car not only does not have the engine barrier and compartment armor, but also opens a door car, and the armor is weak and lacks protection, which is also one of the defects of Merkava's very lethal protection. The side and rear of the body can be easily penetrated as long as the RPG7VR or RPG29 is successfully detonated.
The Merkava that has been pierced through the side armor can be seen as composite armor.
Although the Merkava's huge turret roof can cover most of the car's body, the armor plates are not excellent, and the composite armor has less than 300 mm of homogeneous armor vertically. However, its biggest advantage is that its 75-degree inclined plane and large horizontal protection depth can make the incoming warhead deflect with a high probability of ricocheting or being stuck in the warhead trap with the body and difficult to detonate. Under the composite armor, the inner turret is flanked by homogeneous steel armor with a thickness of less than 100 mm, and it is indeed difficult to penetrate the turret horizontally.
The turret composite armor hit horizontally has poor impact protection, but its large bevel design is valuable.
Merkava MK4 active defense system.
The MK4 is the most modern version of Merkava currently in service, with the addition of the Trophy active defense system. ROPHY is an Israeli-developed hard kill protection system that intercepts incoming rockets and anti-tank missiles by firing shotgun-like fragments within a few meters of the tank. Destroy the incoming warhead before it hits the tank. It is also alleged that the loot system can also identify the firing position and counterattack it. The active defense system has proven to be very effective and a defensive weapon, successfully intercepting anti-tank forces including RPG29, Cornet, and Métis-M, but it is loaded with only 6 units of defensive ammunition, which need to be returned to the base to reload after use.
The principle of interception is similar to that of a shotgun destroying an incoming warhead.
At this point, there is an interesting point phenomenon that can be understood, in Gaza City, many rumors of **, Merkava's active defense is basically ineffective, which can be analyzed: ammunition is exhausted or the defense system has been damaged. The strikes we see** are all content that successfully hits Merkava, and those that are ineffective or counter-killed will not be transmitted, but in the process, the defense system will consume ammo and make the defense ineffective.
The battle of Gaza City is that Merkava is fighting the devil, and the world's most powerful firepower is an attack that ignores life and death.
Merkava Trophy active defense system radar and grenade magazine, which is also installed in the American M1.
The dangers and embarrassment of the front engine.
The front engine is equivalent to taking the mobility system as a sacrifice and giving away the mobility power. Putting the fragile engine in front is likely to be damaged by the first blow, causing the powertrain to be paralyzed. Both the front-mounted fuel supply system and drivetrain can be scrapped or ** in a minor attack, resulting in a loss of power, for which Merkava has specially designed a cabin to install a powerful fire protection system on the driver's right side.
What inert fuel, fire fighting system, as soon as the temperature arrives, it will ignite a fierce fire and hit the ** engine compartment.
The long-talked about engine front as armor is actually a very stupid design, once the tank loses power, it can only be used as a turret, and it is constantly attacked as a target for shooting, at this time the tank crew can only stay in the tank for help, and it may be more dangerous to abandon the car and escape.
On October 7, the Merkava, which was destroyed by armed civilians, was indeed dragged out and shot without injuring its occupants, and this kind of protection is meaningless.
Today, when thermal imaging systems are widely equipped, modern mainstream tanks and armored vehicles have begun to install thermal insulation coverage on the outside of the hull to reduce the thermal infrared signature. The Merkava front engine will significantly increase the heat signature of the front of the tank and the whole vehicle, and when it moves, the hot air flow transmitted backwards will heat the entire body, such as at night, the Merkava body will be clearly presented in the opponent's thermal imaging system, and it is very easy to be locked by the hot-seeking missile.
Thermal imaging feature of Merkava.
Reversing maneuver is the most commonly used tactic in tank combat, the purpose is to put the strongest front facing the opponent, quickly break away from the opponent's attack lock, and the driver counterattacks. Very embarrassed, didn't find the ** of the Merkava reversing maneuver, probably it didn't need to.
Thermal currents rising from the front armor plates can interfere with the driver's or gunner's forward vision or the thermal imaging system at night or in wet weather, by turning the body or turret away from the engine, which exposes the rear of the weak turret to the enemy.