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In addition, the Ministry of Defense intends to consider several options for modernizing the existing fleet of armored combat vehicles.

In the interests of the Israel Defense Forces, the production of the fourth version of the tank, the Merkava Mark IV, will be carried out. The Israeli defense establishment had decided not to pursue the development of the Merkava Mark V tank.Īt this stage, the Merkava Mark IV was to be the last tank that will be manufactured.

A special team will be in charge of examining alternatives. These armored vehicles will be adapted to combat in urban areas and will not replace Merkava tanks or Namer armored personnel carriers in the army.įuture tank development had been halted in September 2013 in the framework of the upcoming multi-year plan and the cuts to the defense budget. Meanwhile, in December 2012, the Israeli Ministry of Defense announced that the development of a new family of light armored combat vehicles based on the Merkava Mark IV could begin in the near future. In addition, it was planned to equip the tank with a hybrid power plant, powerful batteries, as well as light armor with an active protection system - slighty less improbable. In July 2012, it was reported that a prospective tank - Merkava Mark V nicknamed "BARAK" - could be equipped with an electromagnetic or laser gun - gee whiz !! - both entirely unlikely.