Israel Offers Merkava IV Tanks to Colombia

[Adir-M]

Contacts for the UAV deal with the South American country have been renewed

Israel has offered the procurement of Merkava Mark IV tanks and Merkava Namer APCs to Colombia.
During initial discussions with Colombia, a possible procurement of 25 to 40 tanks were discussed. While the price of the Merkava tank has never been published, as it is produced by the IDF and has thus far been provided only to IDF forces, experts assess that the price of such a tank would reach approximately $6 million.
Colombia is concerned over the accelerated rate in which its neighbor Venezuela, ruled by President Hugo Chavez, has been procuring weapons, and has since considerably increased its military procurement budget. Several years ago, Colombia procured military systems from Israel, which included the Kfir fighter aircraft, ground and naval systems. Colombia is also on the verge of procuring UAVs from Israel.
Additional procurement of Israeli products was also brought up during the visit of Israel’s Minister of Defense, Ehud Barak, to Colombia last month.
A large-scale UAV deal with Colombia was cancelled several years ago due to a conflict between Israel Aerospace Industries and Elbit Systems. Since then, tension has existed in the defense procurement relations between both countries. Deals with Israel were also an issue of political dispute in Colombia.
It appears that the possibility of returning to negotiations with Colombia over a different form of the UAV deal is being examined as well, even though Israeli sources do not believe that the chances for a deal are high.
There have been reports of Colombian procurement of individual Israeli-produced UAVs over the past year, primarily the Hermes-900 by Elbit Systems. However, Colombia is still seeking wide-scale UAV procurement.
In addition to the attempt to salvage the UAV deal in another form, the Israeli defense establishment is attempting to convince the Colombian government to procure the Merkava Mark IV tank and Namer APCs from Israel.
Israel has exported technologies developed for the various Merkava tank models, primarily as part of programs to upgrade old tanks. One of the leading projects in this field was the upgrade of the Turkish Army’s M-60 tanks, which was carried out by Israel Military Industries. However, the tank has never been exported as a complete system.

 

[aslam sahab gripen]

whats so good about this tank?

 

[Adir-M]

whats so good about this tank?

 

[aslam sahab gripen]

but i saw that video where lebanese used RPG-7 to cripple this machine.........the video shows that one rpg-7 hitting the tank's track will disable the tanks movement.

 

[MilSpec]

but i saw that video where lebanese used RPG-7 to cripple this machine.........the video shows that one rpg-7 hitting the tank's track will disable the tanks movement.

you can disable any tank in the world if you hit the right spot with even a .50cal, that does not discount the ability of the tank

 

[PteX]

The Turks were about to buy 1000 Merkava tanks from Israel, for 5 Billion dollars before the relations were cut and all the military contracts were frozen.

 

[BLACKEAGLE]

I remember that India, SK, and Greece became no longr intrested in this tank after many of them were disabled and hit in 2006 war.

 

[BordoEnes]

The Turks were about to buy 1000 Merkava tanks from Israel, for 5 Billion dollars before the relations were cut and all the military contracts were frozen.

Not really, It was considered but it was going to be chosen between an Turkified Leclerc, Yatagan or Merkava. But in the end we went for an Domestic Tank.

EDIT: I remember a little bit more now, Merkava wasnt in the Tender At all. It was Leopard, Abrams, Leclerc and Yatagan.

http://www.army-guide.com/eng/article/article.php?forumID=364

 

[Adir-M]

Rpg-7 cannot even penetrate Merkava Mark I which was build in the 70s.
What can cause real damage to any modern tank in the world is very expensive RPG-30 and kornet-E. But this is way IDF order Anti tank missile protection

 

[aslam sahab gripen]

Rpg-7 cannot even penetrate Merkava Mark I which was build in the 70s.
What can cause real damage to any modern tank in the world is very expensive RPG-30 and kornet-E. But this is way IDF order Anti tank missile protection

if someone hurls a hand-grenade down this tanks turret will the turret blow?

 

[Adir-M]

Israel's new weapon downed Gaza anti-tank rocket
Israel's new weapon downed Gaza anti-tank rocket

 

[Juice]

but i saw that video where lebanese used RPG-7 to cripple this machine.........the video shows that one rpg-7 hitting the tank's track will disable the tanks movement.

Any tank can become a mobility kill, tracks are a weak part of the system. But a good tank will preserve the crew even with loss of mobility. Merkhava is not the best tank, but one advantage is the ability to carry a few troops (which happens to be the best way to prevent RPG attacks, with infantry support)

(and hitting the track is not easy, more a matter ofchance unless you are close, and even then not assured, which is why having infantry support helps prevent this)

 

[Adir-M]

if someone hurls a hand-grenade down this tanks turret will the turret blow?

No. you need mach more explosive

 

[Juice]

No. you need mach more explosive

Could hurt the crew, again, why close cooperation with supporting infantry is a must.

 

[aslam sahab gripen]

No. you need mach more explosive

two hand grenades would do?