Free Republic

For the first time, Israel will offer the Merkava Mark 4 tank and the Tiger APC for sale. Both will be sold only to friendly countries, and under strict supervision. In addition, all sales will be coordinated with the United States. The U.S. funds some components of the tank, as well as other Israeli defense projects. Ministry of Defense Director-General Udi Shani said the decision to offer the tanks for sale to allies was “a strategic decision” driven by the need for income to cover military costs. Experts believe sales could bring in $400 million annually.

Taiwan is planning to purchase torpedoes and heavy tanks from the United States in an attempt to further fortify its defense capabilities against China. The Liberty Times reported that Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou ordered the country's defense ministry to draft a draw up a shopping list of weapons that include MK-54 torpedoes, dozens of M1A2 tanks and amphibious landing vehicles. If acquired, the Taipei daily reported, the torpedoes will be used to replace Taiwan's aging MK-46s. The decision comes despite an easing of tense relations between China and Taiwan in recent years. The move also follows a decision by the...

After a 30 year total ban on exports of Israel's famous Merkava tank, the Ministry of Defense will offer its latest model – the Merkava Mark IV – for sale to select buyers for the first time. According to a report in Defense News, the decision is intended to assure that jobs associated with production of the tank stay in Israel, and to provide additional revenue to Israel's military. The Defense Minister recently announced that the Namer (Leopard) heavy armored personal carrier (APC) would soon be produced in the United States, not in Israel, leading to concerns that jobs would...

From old to new. As the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) recently announced, a joint programme with Turkey to refurbish ageing M60A1 main battle tanks has been completed this week. Within the framework of an agreement worth nearly $700 million and signed in March 2002, the programme has been carried out by the Turkish Defence Ministry and the Israeli companies, Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI) and Elbit Systems. Since the beginning of the programme, some 170 40-year old M60A1’s, which are part of a significant fleet of tanks of this type bought from US surplus, have received extensive upgrades to the Sabra...

The army insists that the 200 T-72 and T-80 tanks found in the woods next to a railroad station in the Urals last week, was part of a normal movement of military equipment, and the vehicles were under guard. But a week ago, people living in village of Elanskaya (outside the city of Yekaterinburg) noted the vehicles, unguarded, and unlocked, but without ammo or ignition keys. Local kids began crawling in and out of the tanks. Videos of all this began showing up on local, then national, web news programs. The government controlled national media tried to ignore it at...

Russia will begin the serial production of its new state-of-the-art weapons which include a new Main Battle Tank T-95 and a multi-role fighter jet Mig-35, as the country braces to compete for a share in the global arms market, with India being a potential buyer.

Every time I write about tank sales I get the comment that Iraq should buy armored personnel carriers instead. The commenter always says they are less threatening to the neighbors and more useful for internal security. 1. Appeasement is a western concept and has failed repeatedly. Weakness is an invite to invasion in the mid-east mentality. 2. Tanks are a measure of power in the mid-east. Power makes enemies lay low in the mid-east. 3. Iraq has been buying armored personnel carriers and other vehicles for internal security. They have plenty in their inventory or on order already.

As his M1 Abrams tank, nicknamed Bonecrusher, rolled through Fallujah, Iraq, Gunnery Sgt. Nick Popaditch thought about the trail of dead insurgents left in its wake: “Fight and you die. Run and you die. Hide and you die. Hey, this works for me.” Popaditch, or “Gunny Pop” as his Marines called him, commanded a tank platoon during the first Battle of Fallujah in April 2004. Fighting only a week after four American contractors from Blackwater USA were captured, killed and their bodies hung from a bridge, Bonecrusher and Popaditch’s other tank were working with Marine infantry in clearing insurgents out...

It was named one of Time magazine’s best inventions of 2008, but Raytheon’s Active Protection System (APS), formerly known as “Quick Kill,” was nowhere to be found on the floor of the Washington Convention Center at the Army’s annual conference this week. I asked the Raytheon folks about its status and the best they could come up with was that the program is “maturing”; there was no APS on display nor were there videos showing field tests of the system. By contrast, over at the Israeli Military Industries booth, the Israelis were showing video of their “Iron Fist” APS in...

T-72 tanks moved to remote Sikkim area after China tests Indian defences Manu Pubby Posted online: Tuesday , Jul 28, 2009 at 0441 hrs New Delhi : Chinese moves to test Indian control of the strategic Finger Area in North Sikkim last year have prompted the Army to deploy heavy tanks and armoured personnel carriers in the region and strengthen defensive positions. In fact, the highest gallantry award to a Border Roads Organisation (BRO) personnel was conferred to a dozer operator, Zalim Singh, who cleared a strategic road near Theing village — he was decorated with a Bar to Shaurya...

Wow....now this is some decisive leadership eh? (h/t Weasel Zippers) The Obama administration might reevaluate its stance toward Iran if the violent crackdowns on dissidents were to escalate, White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said Tuesday. "Well, obviously, we are watching the events each and every day here at the White House," Gibbs said during his appearance on Fox News. The White House spokesman said that if an escalation were to take place along the lines of China's Tiananmen Square Massacre — an event to which Republicans critical of President Obama have compared the Iranian protests — then the administration...

at first which are various quotes from a book, concerning tanks; that part not copied-and-pasted to hereOkay, a whole lot of questions, from a professional civilian. (a) What were the significant differences between a Sherman tank and a Soviet T-34; one has the impression they were very much alike? (b) A by-then-antique British Centurion tank has been the only tank I myself have ever seen up close, and operating (although not in combat, of course); how did that tank compare with the Shermans and T-34s? (c) One gets the impression the Allies did in fact have some heavy tanks, comparable...

A line of M1A1 Abrams tanks sit in the Iraqi sun as Soldiers of the 9th Iraqi Army Division receive instruction on the basics of tank operation April 11 at Forward Operating Base Hammer. The Iraqi government has purchased 140 Abrams tanks and these Soldiers will be among the first to become certified.

Staff Sgt. Norbert Ferrell explains the finer aspects of an M1A1 Abrams tank to Iraqi Army Soldiers at Forward Operating Base Hammer, April 11. Photo by Sgt. Joshua Risner, Multi-National Division – Baghdad. BAGHDAD — The M1A1 Abrams tank is one of the newest additions to the Iraqi Army's (IA) arsenal. U.S. Army armor Soldiers and contracted civilians are assisting the 9th IA Division with getting their armored crewmen trained on the new equipment at Forward Operating Base Hammer. "We're here basically to help with mentoring the Iraqis with maintenance and with understanding of how a tank platoon is supposed...

Nicely produced video focused on the Abrams tank in Iraq. There is no way we can't be proud of the service of the crews to our country.

A jewel in his collection is the German Panzer V Panther tank that the German army sank in a Polish river during World War II to keep it from the advancing Russians. The Panther sat submerged for decades, and Mr. Littlefield acquired it five years ago and began restoring it. "Restoration is very satisfying, especially with something like the Panther," Mr. Littlefield said in a 2007 interview with The Chronicle. "People say: 'You'll never get that thing running again.' Well, it was built once, and we can do it again."

Israel was poised last night for a big ground offensive in the Gaza Strip after allowing hundreds of foreigners to leave the devastated territory. The Times understands that by this morning Israeli troops and tanks could be operating inside the area as part of large-scale operation to prevent Hamas from firing rockets into southern Israel. One of the main thrusts of the attack could be the so-called Philadelphi Road that runs along Gaza's border with Egypt, under which Hamas has smuggled arms, missiles and men through a network of tunnels. Israel controlled the border until its army withdrew from the...

All-out warWeb posted at: 12/30/2008 5:27:4 Source ::: DPA Israel pounds Gaza for third day; tanks on the border GAZA/TEL AVIV: Palestinian militants launched missiles last night at Israeli targets which had not previously come under fire, as Israel, after three days of massive airstrikes in the Gaza Strip, was readying to expand its offensive against the group to a ground assault. The toll of Operation “Cast Lead”—launched Saturday to curb rocket and mortar attacks from the strip - reached to at least 345 Palestinians dead and 1,600 injured, Gaza emergency services chief Mu’awia Hassanein said. Four Israelis have also...

The U.S. Army is carrying out an aggressive development program to produce a new, lightweight composite armor for its next generation tank. This vehicle, part of the FCS (Future Combat System) series of vehicles, will weigh under 30 tons. The current U.S. tank, the M-1, weighs 70 tons. Composite armor was invented in Britain during the 1980s. The British developers had found that layers of different metals and ceramics made the armor lighter, and more resistant to penetration by solid shot or HEAT shells. The U.S. added a layer of depleted uranium to its composite armor, and produced the most...

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