Tank Development Halted

17/9/2013 IsraelDefense

Future tank development has been halted in the framework of the upcoming multi-year plan and the cuts to the defense budget. A special team will be in charge of examining alternatives

The Israeli defense establishment has decided not to pursue the development of the Merkava Mark V tank, and at this stage, the Merkava Mark IV will be the last tank that will be manufactured.

IsraelDefense revealed nearly a year ago that the Israeli Ministry of Defense decided to establish a team, headed by Brig. Gen. (Res.) Didi Ben Yoash, that would be responsible for developing the IDF's future tank. Senior officials from Israel's defense industries were also asked to provide their opinions on the form of the future tank, along with the IDF Ground Forces branch.

However, it has now been learned that a decision was made not to develop the advanced tank and to examine possible alternatives in the framework of the IDF's upcoming multi-year plan. In the meanwhile, the Merkava Mark IV tank will be the most advanced tank used by the IDF.