The war between Israel and Hamas is unprecedented in the history of Israeli warfare, not only because of the number of civilians murdered and kidnapped, but also because of the record number of rockets fired at Israel since October 7 and the use of anti-tank missiles by Hamas in fighting in the Gaza Strip. Despite this, the IDF’s ground maneuvers are progressing and one of the reasons for this is the introduction of the IDF’s first Merkava Barak battle tank company.
These tanks constitute the fifth generation of the Merkava series, which were only introduced into the IDF Armored Corps in September, when no one expected the first major test of the tank to begin so soon. Unlike the slow, slow integration of tanks into foreign forces like the U.S. Army, which involves multiple phases of testing, in Israel tanks are first operated in real time with adjustments on the battlefield.
Teams from the Ministry of Defense Merkava and the Directorate of Armored Vehicles are on the ground to physically monitor the performance of the new tanks. Their goal is to study every threat and attack attempt against the tank, increase its weapons capabilities, and discuss with tank teams how to improve the tank and strengthen its operational capabilities.
Brig. General Oren Giber, overall commander of the Israeli Merkava and Armored Vehicle Directorate, told « Globes »: « We are subject to a learning curve over the years against an enemy that tries to find the weak points of The IDF army doesn’t happen in a day, but we’re constantly trying to be several steps ahead of them. »
“This process has been deep and intelligent for many years and today the learning curve continues even in the midst of war when it is more relevant than ever.”
What is the cost of a foreign army?
According to the Ministry of Defense, the cost of the Merkava Barak is similar to that of the Merkava 4. That is, according to foreign reports, $3.5 million for the IDF and $5 million for foreign armies.
How come the cost of the Merkava Barak is the same as the Merkava 4. The Israeli Merkava and Armored Vehicles Directorate breaks down the tank into over 150 systems and components and managing the process this way allows them to hold on to it more easily. an organized budgetary framework.
Another factor that contributes to keeping the costs of the new tank at the same level as the previous model is the dependence on Israeli companies and suppliers. The companies whose products are included in manufacturing, from low-tech to high-tech, are all from Israel, allowing for better cost controls and lower prices. One example is the air conditioning company Beth-El Group.
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Technological progress also helps reduce costs. Today, we find computers and technological means that provide a better response than their predecessors, which were the best technology 20 years ago, when the Merkava 4 was put into service.
One of the critical factors in reducing costs is linked to major Israeli defense companies, Elbit Systems (Nasdaq: ESLT; TASE: ESLT), Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) and Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, which provide technological solutions of leading on a global scale. , but at cost price.
« Globes » learned that sometimes prices for the Barak tank are only 25% of the price at which the same systems are sold to foreign customers. Beyond patriotic considerations, in Israel, the systems prove themselves in real-time warfare and become even more sought-after products abroad.
Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, former head of Southern Command, hosted an inaugural event with industry leaders to thank them for the success. He also spoke about the future in which dozens of additional Merkava Barak tanks are expected to be integrated into the Israeli army each year. Nevertheless, given that a tank company has about 10 tanks, a battalion 30 and a brigade 100, it will take a few more years before the fourth generation Merkava 4 will be operated only by reservists.
A technological leap forward
The Barak tank may be the world’s leading tank in technological terms, but it is still far from the most expensive. The most expensive tank in the world is the French Leclerc AMX 56, which costs $9.3 million. South Korea’s Black Panther costs $8.5 million and India’s Arjun tank costs $7.8 million.
Although it “only” costs foreign armies $5 million, the Israeli Barak tank has unique technological capabilities, the most important of which is the use of artificial intelligence (AI). Similar to the F-35 headsets manufactured by Elbit Systems, which provide the pilot with real-time information analysis, a similar functionality is used in the Barak tank.
Elbit’s Iron Vision system helps improve combat in densely built-up areas and includes an integrated AI peripheral vision system and an advanced visor for the tank commander, which reflects what is happening outside the tank while by embedding relevant information at the top of the image, with the ability to direct any device in the tank towards its eyes with the press of a button.
Tank systems receive information from the combat environment, near or far, process it and translate it into combat-relevant information.
One of the interesting aspects of the Barak tank is that the information processing is individually adapted to whoever commands it. For example, the brigade commander’s perspective is broader and less concerned with micro-tactics. In contrast, when an anti-tank shell is fired at a single tank, immediate attention is paid to the anti-tank launcher. The diversity of combat situations and different roles is a significant key element. In combat, professionals define the Barak tank as a technological advancement in sensors, fusion and information accessibility, while connecting to all weapon systems.
The effectiveness of the Trophy protection system
Alongside the systems manufactured by Elbit are radars produced by Elta Systems, a unit of Israel Aerospace Industries, which is one of the best-known brands of the Israeli ground forces. Trophy proactive protection systems are produced by Rafael.
This system is one of the main reasons for the low number of Israeli casualties despite the unprecedented amount of Hamas anti-tank fire, in one of the most densely built-up areas in the world. The Trophy protection system has been operational for approximately 13 years and provides the tank with 360-degree protection with extremely high efficiency. It is for this reason that 2,000 systems of this type have been sold for 16 platforms around the world, including four divisions of the American Abrams tank, as well as the German Leopard tank and the British Challenger tank.
“When we hand over to IDF soldiers the Tiger or Eitan tank or APCs that we developed for them, we have the feeling that you have put your greatest treasure in their hands,” explains the brigadier general. General Giber. « We look at this armor with respect because we are designing it for IDF soldiers. So we are sparing no effort and doing everything possible to ensure that we have given them the best and most protected weaponry possible. You have to understand that the anti-tank weapon The shell threats facing tanks and armored vehicles in the current war are enormous, I think no one has ever seen anything like this before. The IDF’s decision to provide its fighters platforms offering a level of protection and durability unrivaled in the world, has proven itself. »
Published by Globes, Israel Business News – fr.globes.co.il – December 11, 2023.
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