According to Bulgarian Military, there are reports from Israel about a potential deal involving their proprietary Merkava main battle tank. The Israeli government is in talks with two undisclosed countries about ordering the tank.
The only known details about the mysterious countries interested in buying the Israeli tanks are from Europe. This has led to much speculation, with some suggesting that Ukraine may also be in talks to buy the tanks.
Yair Kulas, head of SIBAT – the Defense Cooperation Directorate of the Israeli Ministry of Defense, recently shared details about the possibility of selling Merkava tanks on the international market with Calcalist newspaper. SIBAT is the agency that handles the sales of weapons systems and military equipment of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).
Israeli Merkava tank.
Kulas mentioned that Israel is in advanced talks with two other countries for the Merkava tanks, the source said, as translated and reported by The Times of Israel. Kulas referred to “one of the countries in Europe,” but did not name the country.
According to The Times of Israel, Kulas did not specify which Merkava models were discussed, but the IDF currently operates primarily the Mk 4 model. This suggests that older Mk 3s and recently retired Mk 2s are likely to be exported.
Merkava tank
The Merkava, which means “war chariot” in Hebrew, was created in the wake of the 1967 Six-Day War. Development of this unique Israeli tank began in the early 1970s, with lessons learned from the 1973 Yom Kippur War.
The Merkava stands out from other main battle tanks due to its unique design. The engine is located at the front and the turret is located at the rear, providing increased protection. The Merkava is spacious, with a crew of four and a rear compartment that can accommodate up to 10 soldiers. It can also be converted into an armored ambulance if needed.
British-made Centurion tank in IDF service in 1967.
Consider the Mk 1 variant, a 60-ton vehicle introduced in 1979. It could reach a top speed of 46 km/h, was armed with a 105 mm main gun and three 7.62x51 mm machine guns, and could fire conventional lasers and guided anti-tank missiles (LAHAT).
In addition, the Mk 1 tank is also equipped with a 60mm mortar. The mortar can fire high-explosive shells, providing indirect fire capabilities. It can also launch smoke shells to protect the tank from enemies and illumination shells for night combat.
The mortar armament is an interesting story, originating from the Israeli forces' use of British-made Centurion tanks, which had a 50mm mortar inside the turret to launch smoke grenades.
By 1983, the IDF began receiving upgraded Mk 2 variants. This new version featured upgrades such as enhanced armor and changes to the drivetrain components. Notably, the 60mm mortar was cleverly repositioned inside the turret, allowing the crew to fire from inside the hull. This was considered a significant advance in tank technology.
A Merkava Mk 1 is now on display in a museum in Israel.
The Mk 2 Merkava tank is equipped with an advanced thermal optics system and more modern armor, while enhancing night fighting capabilities. The Mk 2D version is equipped with composite armor with modular sections for easy replacement when damaged.
In 1989, the Mk 3 variant was introduced, equipped with a 120mm main gun, a more powerful engine, improved transmission, and upgraded fire control and optics. It was five tons heavier than the Mk 2, but faster, reaching speeds of up to 60 km/h. Continued improvements also led to the creation of a number of sub-variants of the Mk 3.
The Mk 4 is equipped with a more powerful 120mm gun and a redesigned hull to accommodate a more powerful engine. It also features advanced sensors, superior battle management capabilities and data sharing capabilities.
Since 2009, the IDF has equipped Mk 4 variants with the Trophy active protection system (APS), which protects the tank from anti-tank guided missiles and other infantry anti-armor weapons. Furthermore, the Merkava design has also spawned combat-capable derivatives such as the Namer turretless heavy armored personnel carrier and the Ofek command vehicle.
A particularly unique feature of the Merkava tank is its internal compartment at the rear, which can carry soldiers and other equipment.
Some countries are interested
The advanced capabilities of the Merkava have attracted the attention of several countries. Some countries have expressed interest in this type of tank, such as Colombia and Türkiye. There have also been reports that Singapore was in talks to buy Merkavas in the mid-2010s. The Philippines has also received two Merkava-based APCs in 2022.
Kulas also hinted at a European country that had shown interest in the Merkava tank. That country was Turkey, which had collaborated with Israel on defense programs, including the retrofit of the old M60 tank. However, the unstable diplomatic relationship between Turkey and Israel, combined with Türkiye’s development of its own Altay tank, put the M60 project on hold.
Many European countries are also looking to upgrade their tanks, including those that still use older Soviet models, such as Croatia with its T-72-based M-84A4 tanks. Croatia has also been interested in Israeli weapons in the past, but it failed to purchase old Israeli F-16A/B Netz fighters.
There are suggestions that Ukraine is the mysterious European country looking for new tanks, but there is no evidence to support this. There is also the possibility that another European country could buy tanks from Israel and then transfer them to Ukraine, but this would affect the geopolitical situation.
The Ukrainian army, which has relied heavily on armor in its counterattacks, is suffering significant losses. The United States and other allies have pledged to continue providing tanks and other armored vehicles to support Ukrainian forces.
Merkava Mk 4.
Israel is cautious.
In a recent interview, Kulas highlighted the possibility of exporting Israel’s “retired” Merkavas. He said this would make them popular in the global market. “We live in a world where time is of the essence. New production can take time, and not everyone can wait,” he said.
The Israeli government has been cautious about providing military assistance to Ukraine since the Russia-Ukraine conflict broke out. A slight change in policy occurred in March 2023, but Israeli authorities said the sales would only include “defensive” systems.
Kulas confirmed that negotiations for the sale of Merkava are ongoing but the outcome is uncertain. Will Israel succeed in its first sale of Merkava tanks abroad? Will Ukraine be the buyer? Time will tell!
Le Hung (Source: Bulgarian Military)
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