israeli mbt Merkava Mk.4B LIC - Missile carrier's nightmare

[Merkko 72]

MERKAVA MK.4

 

Merkava Mk.4 - is the fourth generation of merkava main battle tank series, and is the latest and the most advanced Israel ever built. Considered one of the most protected tanks in the world. Unlike first three generations, this tank is not continuation of previous Merkavas, but a completely new one.
  When creating this model, the concept of the Merkava was completely revised, the tank itself is a capsule covered with a thick layer of modular armor, which can be easily replaced if damaged.
The tank design is so much different from its predecessors, that you can't see connection between them.
  Except that the main uniqueness of the Merkava family has been preserved, retaining the same unique configuration with the crew compartment in the rear and the engine compartment in the front like the very first merkava.

The Merkava Mk 4 entered production in 2001 and in 2004 entered service with the IDF , and is believed that 600+ have been built since then.

 

Today i want to suggest a early production model of Merkava Mk.4.

MERKAVA MK.4B LIC

 

Merkava Mk.4B LIC - Unknown amount of Merkavas were upgraded to LIC standard and some were equipped with "DROID" soft kill APS. This is a small but significant modification over the Mk.4B, which gives the tank new capabilities and improvement in its protection against laser-guided missiles. 

 LIC (Low Intensity Conflict) kit - is the modernization for urban conflicts, it improves tank capabilities in protection and in navigating in built up areas, the main additions are marking poles , which assist the commander and driver in movement in narrow streets, remotely controlled 12.7mm machine gun, so the crew wouldn't need to get out of the tank in order to use it, add-on belly armor protection, to protect the tank from explosions from under the bottom and other small additions like reverse camera for the driver. Some sources say that LIC kit adds a metal mesh over the optics, but in the most cases it doesn't appear on LIC equipped tanks in active service. The only tank equipped with that kind of protection was Technology Demonstrator from LIC convencion, in Tel Aviv 2005.

 

The modification does not give any improvement in tank firepower and mobility.

 

DROID - soft kill active protection system

This modification can carry a soft kill aps, unfortunately, there is no information on this system, since it is classified, although it is widely used in the armed forces of Israel, Unofficially known as "DROID" this system is a soft kill aps - it neutralizes the threat through electronic warfare that disrupts and damages the navigation and guidance systems of the guided missiles and causes them to deviate from the target. Similarly to shtora-1.

The system consists of 9 screens covering a range of 360 degrees

SPECIFICATIONS

 

 

Dimensions
Length Gun Forward - 9.04m
Length Hull - 7.6m
Width - 3.72m (with out side skirts)
Height - 2.66m
Ground Clearance - 0.45 m
Weight - ~ 65 t. (combat loaded)

 

Mobility
Engine - General Dynamics GD883 1,500hp V12 water-cooled diesel
Transmission - Ashot Ashkelon hydromechanical automatic

Power To Weight Ratio - 23.08 hp/t
Top Road Speed - 64 km/h
Suspension Type - Helical spring
Road Range - 500 km

 

Firepower
Main Gun - MG253 120mm, calibre Length 44 smoothbore
Secondary Weapons - x2 7.62mm Machine Guns and 60mm internal mortar

Ammunition Storage - x 48 rounds, x10 ready in an electrical drum 120mm

 

Protection
Armor Type - Modular, composite

Active Protection System - "DROID" soft kill APS

 

Crew

Commander    
Gunner    
Loader    
Driver

Total - 4

 

GALLERY:

Spoiler

 

 

 

 

 

 

Final Words:

 

Thank you all for support . You can look up to my previous suggestions here .

If you noticed any mistakes in my post or you have sources that can support my suggestion please comment, thank you and see you next time ! 

SOURCES:

 

http://www.army-guide.com/eng/product4761.html

https://defense-update.com/20060727_merkava-lic.html

https://bukvoed.livejournal.com/433531.html

https://odetievbrony.ru/viewtopic.php?id=88

 

http://fighting-vehicles.com/merkava-mk-4-tank/

http://www.military-today.com/tanks/merkava_mk4.htm

http://www.army-guide.com/rus/product4760.html

https://cyclowiki.org/wiki/Меркава_Mk.4

Edited November 25, 2022 by Merkko

[kurururocks 210]

Open for discussion

[Merkko 72]

5 hours ago, kurururocks said:

Open for discussion

  Thank you!!

Edited December 1, 2022 by Merkko

[Zucc_Boi 657]

Just so people are aware of the numbers of current and future potential Merkava 4 variants, here's a short rundown:

4A

4A LIC

4B

4B LIC

4M

4M LIC

4M-400

Barak

 

Without the LIC we have 5 Merkava 4 variants. With LIC it's 8.

Let this be another metric for you guys to judge.

 

 +1 as modification.

 

Keep the suggestions coming! I personally couldn't find good photos of the Droid on the Mark 4, so it's awesome that you found them.

[Merkko 72]

35 minutes ago, Zucc_Boi said:

Without the LIC we have 5 Merkava 4 variants. With LIC it's 8.

Let this be another metric for you guys to judge.

 

 +1 as modification.

That's why I added modification as an option, modifications are neat but too small for it to be a separate vehicle in my opinion.

 

40 minutes ago, Zucc_Boi said:

Keep the suggestions coming! I personally couldn't find good photos of the Droid on the Mark 4, so it's awesome that you found them.

Thank you!!

   That's because most of the pictures of Mk.4 with DROID are rare and people are not familiar with them so they tag them as a regular merkava.

   And they should not be judged for this, because the IDF is very serious about classifying its tech. And there is so few to no info even in Hebrew.

   Knowledge of Russian and Hebrew helped me in the search for info and material.

Here some pictures from Russian forum

[Milocat 4,857]

This would be a very interesting and powerful Merkava, I'll give it a +1.

[PARDUS IX@live 263]

There is also a Merkava MK 2D LIC which mounts the droid, as well as a 2C LIC, and MK 3D LIC.

All of which need suggestions.

[Merkko 72]

31 minutes ago, PARDUS IX@live said:

There is also a Merkava MK 2D LIC which mounts the droid, as well as a 2C LIC, and MK 3D LIC.

All of which need suggestions.

I already did a suggestion on Mk.2C LIC.

Mk.3D LIC doesn't have have any visual evidence to that it can carry Droid and people from Israeli and Russian military forums say that they seen Mk.2 and 4, but never seen Mk.3 with that kind of system. 

Mk.2D LIC is in game but don't have Droid.

[Rambolf 371]

There is this the 3D with trophy 

 (Never mind you did another post with it)

Edited December 6, 2022 by Rambolf

[Merkko 72]

9 hours ago, Rambolf said:

There is this the 3D with trophy 

 (Never mind you did another post with it)

Nah, I did a suggestion on a tech demonstrator ( done by the private company ) on an early Mk.3 base, this one is a IDF prototype.

If you are talking about a possibility of an installation of a Droid system Mk.3D versions, they don't have it, the picture is of a Mk.3M.

[TyrantrumGamingB@psn 246]

I think this'd make a awesome introduction as either a TT version (maybe Foldered under the 4B) or as a Squadron vehicle 

[PARDUS IX@live 263]

The 4 LIC in the dev server is missing Droid... Bug report?

[Zucc_Boi 657]

12 hours ago, PARDUS IX@live said:

The 4 LIC in the dev server is missing Droid... Bug report?

You can bug report it. Technically it was very much a situational/regional add-on, not a permanent feature of any variant, so Gaijin can legit shut you down.

Also, I believe at least most players would not want to have it because it adds to the profile and people will spot the Merkava behind cover more easily (if they don't spot the antennas first), so it's a real gamble. If they don't add it as a removable item, it may do more harm than good.

[DoktorBOB117 52]

Seems like they messed something up. The Mk4 Lic has better amor values than the other Mk4s. Hope they change the B and M to the better Lic armor and not vice versa. 
 

[leroyonly 4,311]

As the Merkava Mk.4 LIC has been implemented as per Update 2.25 Sky Guardians,

 

Moved to Implemented Suggestions.