The Merkava (Hebrew: מֶרְכָּבָה, [mɛʁkaˈva] ⓘ, "chariot") [5] is a series of main battle tanks used by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) which are the backbone of the IDF's Armored Corps.

Jul 18, 2025 · Many analysts consider the Merkava (Hebrew for “Chariot”) to be the most capable and effective tank designed for desert warfare. The front-engine layout, unlike most tanks, provides an …

Jul 3, 2025 · Explore the Merkava tank’s evolution from Mk I to Mk V, learn about its Trophy active protection, crew-first design, armament, and battlefield performance.

Mar 28, 2025 · The Merkava tank, developed by Israel after the 1973 Yom Kippur War, represents Israeli innovation and resilience.

Nearly nine years after establishing the Merkava and Armored Vehicles Directorate, Israel issued its first Merkava Mark I tank. Each new generation of the Merkava is more sophisticated and better …

1 day ago · Israeli Merkava tanks are lined up during a military drill near the border with Lebanon in the upper Galilee region of northern Israel on Oct. 26, 2023. (Jalaa Marey/AFP via Getty Images ...

1 day ago · The Elbit defense firm announces that it has been awarded several contracts from the Defense Ministry, worth approximately $210 million (NIS 685 million), for upgrading the IDF’s …

2 days ago · After continuous combat involving Merkava tanks during the Iron Swords War, the longest war in Israel Defense Forces (IDF) history lasting nearly two years, the IDF is preparing to renew and ...

Key Points - Israel's Merkava main battle tank series, conceived from the need for strategic self-sufficiency and lessons from the 1973 Yom Kippur War, is uniquely designed with a paramount focus...

2 days ago · Elbit Systems secured a $210m MOD contract to upgrade Merkava tanks with renewed electronics, AI-enhanced sights, spare parts, and long-term support.