India eyes Israeli Merkava Tank, APC systems

WolfPack86

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Israeli companies involved in the Merkava tank and Namer armored personnel carrier held a seminar in India, Israel's biggest defense customer.

Representatives of over 20 Israeli companies involved in the development and production program for the Merkava tank and Namer armored personnel carrier today finished the first seminar ever conducted in India. Dozens of Indian companies attended the seminar. The Ministry of Defense SIBAT - Ministry of Defense International Defense Cooperation Authority sponsored the seminar, in view of the emerging needs of Indian industry in order to prepare for the large-scale procurement of armored vehicles by the Indian army expected in the coming years.

The growing security ties between India and Israel have been reflected in recent years by major Indian procurement of Gil anti-tank missiles produced by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd., upgrades of Indian tanks by Elbit Systems Ltd. (Nasdaq: ESLT; TASE: ESLT), joint development with Israel Aerospace Industries Ltd. (IAI) (TASE: ARSP.B1) of Barak 8 missiles, and more. The Ministry of Defense, Manufacturers Association of Israel, and the Indian Industries Association are now trying to extend the ties even further and facilitate cooperation between Israeli companies and companies involved in future procurement of armored vehicles by the Indian army. The aim is to have Israeli systems developed in industries related to the Merkava in Indian armored vehicles. "We want to make connections between companies," Ministry of Defense Tank Administration Commander Brig. Gen. Baruch Matzliah told "Globes" today. "We have technology, and the Indians are interested in it, in addition to the need to create new jobs in the country. It appears that there is fertile ground for cooperation in the coming years." Two years ago, Elbit Systems signed an agreement to upgrade 1,000 T-72 tanks used by the Indian army. The deal was believed to total hundreds of millions of dollars. Elbit Systems will install advanced fire control systems developed for the IDF's Merkava in these T-72s.

In addition to upgrading T-72s, India is manufacturing another Russian tank, the T-90, in its territory under special license. The Ministry of Defense now believes that Israeli companies can also be included in this program through the installing of systems they have developed in tanks produced for the Indian army.

Representatives of Imco Industries Ltd. (TASE: IMCO), Nir-Or Israel Electronics, Urdan Metal & Casting Industries, Orlite Industries, C. Mer Industries Ltd. (TASE: CMER), Beth-El Zikhron Yaaqov Industries, Magam Safety, Bental Industries, and other companies manufacturing components for the Merkava and Namer took part in the seminar.

200 Israeli companies with a total of 10,000 employees throughout Israel are involved in these enterprises. Aggregate exports by these companies are estimated at $700 million.

In addition to production of the Merkava Mark IV and the Namer, the Tank Administration is also spearheading the development of the Eitan, a new wheeled Israeli APC currently under consideration. If and when it is decided to procure it, the Ministry of Defense's orders from these companies may increase.

The defense establishment is having trouble estimating the potential value of possible cooperative ventures involving Israeli and Indian companies aimed at the Indian armored vehicles procurement program. In any case, the Indian hosts have already explained the prevailing business environment in India to their Israeli guests. Every deal signed with India must include the transfer of Israeli know-how to India, and the production lines must be in the country. "In any case, we will take care to keep some of the production in Israel - and of course we will keep special know-how in this area," Matzliah said.


Comprehensive surveys ::

In recent days, representatives of Israeli industries and the defense establishment received a comprehensive survey from senior Indian army officers of its buildup of forces for the coming year and the defense challenges it faces, especially on the country's borders with Pakistan and China. "For a long time, our relations with India have been more than just buyer and seller," SIBAT head Brigadier General (res.) Michel Ben-Baruch says. "It's a partnership, a common road, it’s a real friendship."

The industries involved in the Merkava and Namer program have been exporting components and systems developed for the Israeli tanks and APCs for years. The Ministry of Defense has previously claimed that every shekel invested in the Merkava program is returned fourfold to the Israeli economy through these exports. At the same time, for the first time, the Ministry of Defense is referring a mass of companies in this area to a target growth market with potential for deals amounting to billions of dollars. "India is Israel's biggest defense export destination. There is a significant business opportunity here to expand the volume of our activity," says C. Mer Industries defense and technology division general manager and former SIBAT head Yaron Livnat. "Most of us are familiar with the Indian market, and we're confident that we have a great deal to offer them in cooperation with local companies."
http://www.defencenews.in/article.aspx?id=139371
 

Shashank Sharma

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Most of the production will be transferred to india but critical systems will still be Israeli top secrets unavailable to us.
 

Heat

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Well its a good thing that we are using Israeli tech to upgrade our tanks however IA is stil not giving a major push for indigenous weapon systems. Navy and finally IAF are giving the much needed attention to Indian equipments. Army too should should focus on Arjun mk2 and fmbt. This will be the best course of action.
 

India22

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No. Thank you. T 90S is enough for us. And also India does not face any massive armour threat. Pakistan's armour can be defeated by a tank fleet 2500 T 90S and ATGMs. So it all means Arjun project has failed.
 

Heat

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T 90s won't remain brand new forever. They too will become obsolete at some point of time and again we will have to look for new systems. Arjun is a failure or success would be decided by army brass. The prime point is having your own tanks and decreasing reliance on foreign nations. Plus it also opens foreign market for export. This cant be ignored.
 

hardip

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wooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooow...


Finaly..our expert Got ...Relized... that Arjun Not More in Battleground...
 

hardip

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This the ONLY Tank Which carry troops.. to battel field...

It have Great Advance Active Defense System...

so indian goverment dont west their time

QUICK BUY IT in Large NUmber
 

Flame Thrower

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C'mon guys, this seems to be fake news...

Don't get carried away by this news.....

We bought T-90s recently and we may not buy another type MBT at least till end of this decade...

Now coming to Arun... Israeli Army and the whole world calls Arun as Desert Ferrari for a reason.....

Yes Arjun may be bulky, heavy but it's ground pressure is way less than T-90....

Now Israeli compannies worked with DRDO on Arjun MK2....

I really wanted to have t-90 pitted with Arjun, see the outcome and then go for the best one....

Sadly these exercises won't happen....
 

Hari Sud

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Merkava why?

The import lobby is happy and so are the generals who made that casual remark of getting Merkava. They should be busy protecting cantonments, bases and residential area in Kashmir from four mere terrorists.

No, we do not need Merkava. Our own Arjun tank tested in Israel proved equal. The upgraded Arjun -2 will even be better.

Only recently the Army preferred lighter T-90SM (Highly upgraded) tank and gave Arjun lower credit that it is heavy at 60 to 63 tons. Now if Army recommends Merkava at 65 to 66 tons, it will be shame. Shame on the whole army and their thinking process about tank purchases.

Then what do we do with 1300 T-90 tanks and a similar number of T-72s in the Army.
 

Navnit Kundu

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C'mon guys, this seems to be fake news...

Don't get carried away by this news.....

We bought T-90s recently and we may not buy another type MBT at least till end of this decade...
Yup, seems like fake news planted to generate public interest. In fact, I am not even sure if the news of the recent T90 purchase was real or fake. Can someone with perfect up-to-date knowledge please update this thread with accurate information on the status of Arjun tank Mk1/ Mk2? forget how many T90 we have and how many we are going to buy, someone just tell us if Arjun project has been scrapped or alive? (we can use a combination of T72, T90 and Arjun for different types of roles, for ex, the T72 chasis is used as a mounting platform for rocket launchers), and what is the status of Armata tank? someone planted a news that India is interested in buying that too?

Someone please give some clarity. What is the status of :

T90?
Arjun Mk 1?
Arjun Mk 2?
Armata?
(Merkava is definitely fake news planted maybe by India itself to use as a bargain tactic to get better price on Armata.)
 

Heat

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Very true. Current purchases of T-90s and upgrades of T-72s have covered our needs of armour for good amount of time. Now is the perfect time to proceed with variants of Arjun and develope the FMBT. Generally foreign procurements are done to fill the gaps in operational capability of forces. But inducting Merkeva does'nt makes sense.
 

republic_roi97

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For years I have wondered why India invests so heavily in tanks? IMO I think this money would be better spent buying attack helicopters?
Attack Helis are a good alternative indeed, but they are also vulnerable to SAM and MANPADS, much more so than a normal jet, because of its lesser agility and speed, Tanks on the otherhand, can be armoured heavily to provide solid cover ground troops, however, attack helicopters are difficult to maintain.
 

Rushil51

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Please check the source before speculating. Defensenews(dot)in is not a credible source AT ALL!
 

harsh

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Guys just read that article. ........ they are saying india is interested in some of merkeva technologies. So if we are using some components of merkeva in our arjun mk2 or t 72 or t 90 then it will be super duper superhit
 

Chinmoy

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Misleading heading........

Its just mentioned as.
The aim is to have Israeli systems developed in industries related to the Merkava in Indian armored vehicles.
No where it is mentioned that IA is interested in Merkava. IA had time and again quoted weight of Arjun as an obstacle in large induction. Now Arjun Mk1 was 58tonnes, Mk2 is 68 and Merkava weights 65tonnes. Now do you think IA would go for Merkava at 65 tonnes when they are induction T90S at 48 tonnes???
 

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