Mighty_Zuk

Going for a programmable fuze would warrant a proper HE shell.

Couldn't hardness be determined by velocity loss? Though it may not be a very space efficient mechanism, come to think of it.

http://www.israeldefense.co.il/en/node/29193

Israel signs largest single defense deal in its history, providing India with Barak 8 variants - MRSAM and LRSAM worth collectively $1.6 billion.

The Barak 8 will become the Indian Navy's principle air defense system, and is also in service with the air force.

I must say, the Indians are very serious about their navy. They got some of the best toys on the market right now.

That's good, the M109 needs a serious overhaul and the M109A7 was outdated before the first unit was even produced.

In other news, Elbit was selected today to build Israel's new artillery, which according to past releases, should begin early firing trials in May this year, and in worst case scenario would be delayed by another year if unexpected problems occur. First operational unit ready within 5 years from January 2017, with the project running in total for 15-20 years at a cost of 1.5 billion USD for approximately 300 units. 

Plans for the vehicle itself, detailed requirements, (leaked photos  ), and any other important pieces of information, were not yet given. Got my fingers crossed!

Sorry for poor quality. That's how Fibrotex uploaded it to their website.

So this is how a Merkava 4 with thermal camo looks like.... nice.

This picture is meant for the select few I've met, that thought the Trophy installation required removing much of the armor module.

And SS (from FTR blog) seems to have missed the added info I've posted when I first shared the source (book) in AW forums.

It was developed in parallel with Mark 4, at least from what I've found, and its suspension is NOT based on the Merkava tanks. The whole deal about it and its relation to Yehiam is that he had to develop a suspension from scratch, on a principle he had no prior experience with, and still manage to complete it in record time.

http://www.janes.com/article/69059/idf-to-trial-elbit-s-ironvision-in-merkava-mbt

As of April 2017 the IDF will be testing the IronVision system on a Merkava MBT. This is part of the Barak program to build a future tank based on the Merkava 4, for which a first working prototype will be made within 3 years.

Some photos I believe are missing here

As far as I know, both the Bushmaster and the MK30-2 have a RoF of 200RPM. 

Elbit has unveiled the TORC30 turret made for the Guarani by its subsidiary company Ares. The turret uses an MK30-2/ABM gun. 

Seems that this gun has stability issues which warrant a cage. Where exactly do they come from? Longer barrel? Higher pressure?

It was said in a humoristic way. I know they're not going to phase out newly acquired tanks. But them looking at other options already, is a really bad sign for the Ukrainian industries.

Kudos to the Oplot-M for being the first tank to start being phased out before it's even fully acquired. 

I think it's a doghouse. But if it is, it would be the first time I see one on a Namer.

When making proof of concept vehicles, an intentionally low quality production is permitted to avoid unnecessarily increasing testing and production costs of the mid development stages. Hence the rusty plate on the turret, and perhaps recycled components to the point of using a modified existing hull.

Marsh, I guess if you have no info on it, I cannot expect it to be too old, even though the project was probably scrapped years ago.

What we do know is that light tanks are out of the scope of conception for the IDF at the moment, as the trend goes towards heavier. But this is not some sketch on the drawing board. This is a project with allocated resources and manpower. If it was something very recent, I could think it was related to the Rakiya project, as part of the study process in the initial-most development stages. But the way others over at an Israeli forum (Fresh.co.il) speak about it, it is not recent.

Marsh, do you have any info to provide me on this?

What I know is it uses a torsion bar suspension, front mounted engine (but not based on the Merkava), a 120mm gun (MG251?). That's about it.

I still don't know the date of the program inception and its ending, the motives behind it, and overall envisioned capabilities on the tactical level.

http://www.timesofisrael.com/iaf-arrow-battery-intercepts-syrian-missile-in-first-reported-use-of-the-system/

Arrow missile (don't know if Arrow 2 or 3) downed an S-200 anti-air missile as it passed over Jordan and headed towards Jerusalem. 

The very first pictures released of this tank a few months ago very clearly showed a T-72S Shilden's hull, and a non-functional barrel cage. It didn't leave much doubt about being a PR stunt.

MM said that. But the EFCS-3, as he said, lacks some of the features seen on the new sight. And the new sight was likely newly developed in Iran.

Given that I have not seen a similar looking FCS yet on other tanks, or in the portfolios of the companies I have checked, it does seem likely that it was newly developed.

Could this be related to the drone operating capability they were talking about? 

http://www.defensenews.com/articles/army-to-demo-robotic-wingman-vehicles-in-2017

https://zuk-armor-il.blogspot.co.il/2016/12/abrams-to-get-drone-operating.html

I'll keep that in mind Mr. Armored Jelly. 

Regarding the Barak improvement effort, there's a new blog entry about that. Hope I didn't miss any bit of info:

https://zuk-armor-il.blogspot.com/

I always thought it's a very good looking school bus.

Where do you think their Kornets, Grads, Fateh, Zelzal, as well as personal gear and ammunition is coming from? It's all from Iran (copies) and goes through Syria. Sometimes even Russian "gifts" to SAA find their way to Hezbollah's hands. 

All their financial aid and military aid is coming from Iran, and IRGC was caught sending advisors to Lebanon to assist Hezbollah. 

They don't even need to shoot down any warplane or helicopter to make effective use of these AA systems and let me explain; simply by activating the system's radar and locking onto an aircraft, for just a few moments, would alert the aircraft of a nearby threat and prompt it to delay its strike mission on the given target. This is essential is Hezbollah means to effectively play its hide and seek game with its thousands of rocket launcher spots. 

Hamas did the same thing by firing some cheap AA (obviously didn't hit anything), that caused IAF warplanes to delay their given missions. It was reported that in 2014, 96 strike missions were SEAD. 

7 hours ago, LoooSeR said:

This is so full of BS that it is not even funny. Pantsirs to Lebanon? To Hezbollah? This is same idiocy like with Yakhont missiles. At least DEBKA didn't run a story about Hezbollah and T-90A tanks, Hezbollah and Msta-S, Hezbollah receiving Ka-52s and so on.

While the story is definitely BS, because when it happened, Israel was only talking about ground launched long range missiles (EXTRA, Predator Hawk, LORA) as a replacement for some air force missions, and it's very likely it was done by such long range rocket. Not to mention the idiotic S-300 remark.

But given Syria's transfers of advanced Russian weaponry to Hezbollah, it's not surprising they were trying to transfer a Pantsir. Almost every air strike that Israel conducted in Syria in the past few years has been exclusively against advanced air defense systems.

Big news guys. Zuk is here you insert his daily knowledge into you.

1)The IDF just announced a new tank development called Merkava 4 Barak, which although not a Mark 5, and not related to the Rakiyah program, is a substantial upgrade to the Merkava 4. So I think we'll go back to calling it Mark 4B. The tank is said to be completed within just 3 years from now. 
The upgrades said to include a new system that would prevent the need for the crews to stick out their heads to see more clearly. This is most likely the Elbit's IronVision, based on the JHMCS 2 helmet and its See-Through-Armor technologies. 
New and larger touchscreens, and a capability to operate UGVs from within the tank (resembles this). 

2)The Trophy system was said to be vastly improved "shortly", and will equip Merkava 3 tanks of the 188th active Brigade soon. A contract has already been signed. 

3)Rakiyah program was heavily hinted at being the IDF's next gen MBT that will gain operational capability in 2027. Previously it was hinted as a specialized combat vehicle that will not replace Merkava tanks.
It's said to be around 30-40 tons, armed with a non-conventional tank cannon of possibly collapsible design, and with a crew of 2 men in an armored capsule.

On another note, IDF Spokesperson Unit releases video that shows a November 2016 tank strike on an ISIS position in the Golan, in response to ISIS's attack attempt on an IDF patrol unit. The attacked position is a long abandoned UN facility (personnel moved to Israel when the Syrian war started). 

Unfortunately the video isn't yet available on Youtube but you can see it here: http://www.ynet.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-4933156,00.html

When it will become available, I will upload it here.

1 hour ago, LoooSeR said:

It is called 2S31 Vena.

 

I forgot to put the link and now I cannot find it

Yes that is the Vena, but it was reported that an improved version was built, and that the prototype is called Lotus. 

Didn't notice they just stuck the photo of the Vena and not of the prototype, which was supposedly not unveiled yet. My bad. Sorry!

Just copying a post I made in AW forums:

http://irmep.org/cfp/dod/071987_ctaiiann.pdf

Marsh Gelbart gave me this link, which shortly describes the US's analysis of foreign military technologies with a focus on Israel (in 1987). The document categorizes the technologies into 3 different categories. 
Category 1 being described as: "Unique, innovative and different, technologically sound, something not being pursued elsewhere".

Category 2: "On par with state-of-the-art, good sound technology". 

Category 3A: "Sound technology but behind state-of-the-art".

The report talks about multiple companies/institutions and their multiple fields of work, but I will only highlight those relevant here. 

Also, all highlighted pieces are of Category 1, with the exception of a single Category 2 piece.

SOREQ

Electrothermal acceleration - simple retro of existing platforms to provide hypervelocity kinetic energy rounds. Velocities up to 4km/sec are considered feasible.(refer to pages III-10 and III-11 and attachment III-1 far below after Tadiran's section).


RAFAEL

Ballistics technology to develop explosively formed armor penetration warheads and
hollow shaped charges with improved jets. Explosive reactive armor is included in
this area of technology.

(Note RAFAEL collaborated with Germany's MBB in the research and development of "active" armor which may refer to ERA, and shaped charges. Israel's collaboration with West Germany in defense matters was especially high).

IMI

Material for kinetic energy penetrators -- tungsten based heavy metal· and other
alloys using cold isostatic pressing and centering techniques. Research yielding
improved alloys through plastic deformation and heat treatment that provides 17.15
GICC, tensile strength 225,000 PSI, tensile yield of 220,000 PSI (0.2% offset),
elongation of 8% in 1 inch.

Development of spaced armor; working on reactive armor programs with small explosive charges jointly with Rafael to stop armor penetrators and hollow shaped charges. 
The U.S. urgently needs this technology.
Spaced reactive explosive ceramic armor developed in cooperation with Rafael. The technology can turn a penetrator rod sideways and halt its penetration
(Note Ceramics used in ERA, and anti-KE ERA design that yaws rod).

hypervelocity medium caliber rounds, anti-tank systems and ramjet powered
kinetic energy penetrators.
Research on a kg-class projectile that will travel at 2 kmlsecond using ramjet power. Limited data exchanged with U.S. companies. Ability to accelerate large
masses exceeds any known U.S. effort..(Heavily implies a project similar to LOSAT/CKEM, perhaps IMI participated in the LOSAT project).

Cannon launched anti-armor maneuvering projectile (CLAMP), a semi-active laser homing 155 mm anti-armor projectile, hardened to 10,000 plus GS, ballistic and glide modes to 20 km range, hollow charge warhead to penetrate 800 plus mm.(Related to the Sholef, giving it superb long range anti-tank capabilities, cheaper than Spike).



And here's one minister of defense dwarfed by a Namer as a fun bonus for the lads