Israeli Ministry of Defense has approved a five-year program to accelerate production of heavy armored vehicles, including Merkava tanks, Namer tracked APCs, and Eitan wheeled combat vehicles.
The plan, worth over 5 billion shekels ($1.5 billion), aims to speed up technological cycles, expand industrial capacity, and strengthen logistics. Final approval still rests with the Knesset defense committee.
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Officials say the initiative will supply the Israel Defense Forces with dozens of tanks and APCs in the coming years. The move comes amid public debate over whether heavy armor has lost relevance on the modern battlefield. However, the IDF emphasizes that the recent Iron Swords operation in Gaza proved the decisive role of modern armored forces.
"During the Gaza war, the Merkava, Namer, and Eitan demonstrated global-scale battlefield achievements. Accelerating production is part of our strategy to meet current operational needs and strengthen readiness for the coming decade," said MoD Director-General Amir Baram.
The program focuses exclusively on heavy platforms: the 65-ton Merkava Mk4 Barak, the over-60-ton Namer APC, and the 35-ton Eitan wheeled IFV/APC.
Israel is enhancing survivability with Rafael's Trophy active protection system, effective even against drones.
While Israel has not faced drone saturation at the scale seen in Ukraine, defense planners appear to be anticipating such threats.
Analysts suggest the real goal is not just producing new vehicles, but ensuring rapid replacement of losses and industrial resilience — something Europe has struggled with in supporting Ukraine's armored brigades.
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