very powerful missiles “designed for survival”

Israel’s ground incursion into Lebanon features Merkava tanks, a model that Spain does not possess. It is about spearheads Netanyahu’s defense forces to gain ground while operations against Hezbollah are carried out. This armored vehicle is considered one of the best in the world mainly thanks to its defense systems, which use the most advanced technology to repel any attack and emerge victorious.

However, Hezbollah members also have their own means to try to stop the Israeli incursion. A few days ago, Israeli and Lebanese sources confirmed that several armored vehicles were hit by anti-tank missiles launched from an area controlled by the terrorist group.

In total, they were three vehicles neutralized by the impact of a “rocket”as reported by Hezbollah, as troops advanced towards the village of Maroun al-Ras. And having the most protected tank in the world does not make its crew safe from various types of attacks, especially when they come from this terrorist group that accumulates years of experience in these operations.

Hamas achieved a different result when it carried out its massive attack on Israel a year ago. At that time and from the Gaza Strip, an unknown number of drones kamikaze They headed straight for the tanks. Merkava of the Israeli army, repelling the attack automatically and without causing significant damage.

This very particular model of armored vehicle is specifically “designed for survival”says CSIS analyst Maya Carlin in The national interest. Among its features, “there is thick armor and an engine located at the front.”

The best tank

Merkava tanks entered service in 1979 under the name the country’s first approach in manufacturing this type of battle tank. The success of this original version allowed the continuation of the program until reaching the Merkava V, which is currently the most modern of the family, although it is still out of active service and immersed in a test program on the part of IDF.

Instead, the newest version on the battlefield is the Merkava IV. The same one that was deployed during the Iron Swords counter-offensive in October 2023 and which Today she is mobilized in Lebanon. Israel is estimated to have around 400 operational units of this tank.

THE The first Merkava IV entered service in 2003 as a significant update – mainly to internal systems, weapons and engines – compared to previous versions. It features a new barge and turret shape that reduces its detection by radars and improves shielding so that hot air from the engine mixes better with outside air, also reducing the thermal footprint.

It also incorporates a longer main gun than older models, allowing it to fire a wider variety of ammunition. Including anti-tank explosive and penetrating to penetrate heavy armor. Another of the Merkava’s qualities is that it can launch laser-guided missiles – LAHAT model – which reach up to 8,000 meters of operational range and can destroy even the most protected armored vehicles.

At the same time, a new fire control system and a laser receiver that warns the crew of threats are integrated. The two abilities can be combined to deploy countermeasures such as throwing smoke grenades to confuse the guided projectile which is pointing towards the tank as the target.

The combat management system is also new and signed by Elbit. It has a centralized system that takes data from tracked units and unmanned aerial vehicles who are also on the battlefield. It displays them in real time and in color on the screens integrated into the tank itself and distributes them to the rest of the units compatible with the same management system.

Integrated anti-aircraft dome

Among all modern military technologies, anti-aircraft domes have been demonstrated in recent years to constitute the Israeli defense system par excellence. They have everything you need detection, command and neutralization the potential threat; also for their battle tanks.

“Perhaps the most significant improvement added to the Merkava was the Trophy active protection system“, assures Carlin. This countermeasure is designed by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems and is currently installed on the Merkava IV and V models.

Trophy “mejora la capacidad del tanque para localizar blindados enemigos, aumentan así la capacidad de supervivencia de la tripulación” y permite tomar un rol menos conservador en el campo de batalla. “Con Trophy sientes que tienes la capacidad de ser más ofensivo, de exponerte un poco más y de permitirte aceptar un poco más de riesgo que antes”, en palabras de la escuela de comandantes de tanques de la FDI.

Según explica Rafael, el software de Trophy “puede localizar la fuente del disparo, lo que permite a la tripulación devolver el fuego con eficacia utilizando el armamento de la plataforma, o mediante la interconexión con otras plataformas de combate a través de la red del sistema de gestión de batalla (BMS)”.

Technology is capable of eliminate most anti-tank shells with surprising efficiency. “With more than 5,300 live fire tests and 1,000,000 operating hours, it is the only APS [siglas en inglés de ‘sistema de protección activa’] which has already saved lives”, they emphasize from the Israeli arms company itself.

This almost 360-degree neutralization “bubble” is based on a set of small radars, responsible for detecting, classifying and attacking all types of anti-tank weapons, from highly explosive projectiles to RPGs commonly used by members of Hamas and Hezbollah. Once the threat is detected and classified, the system triggers countermeasures from one of multiple preloaded kinetic projectile launchers, designed to destroy or deflect projectiles by physically striking them.