Tel Aviv. The Israeli ministry of defence has started to implement the program to increase the number of the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) Merkava main battle tank and Namer APC.
The ministry signed a contract of over $23 million with Israeli company Ashot Ashkelon that manufactures components for Merkava tank and Namer APC.
The Directorate of Production and Procurement (DOPP) at the Israel Ministry of Defence, in collaboration with the IMoD’s Tank and APC Administration and the IDF’s Technological and Logistics Directorate, signed the contract.
The IMoD’s Director General, Maj Gen (Res.) Eyal Zamir, signed the contract as part of the ministry’s broader initiative to enhance the capabilities of Israel’s armoured vehicles, such as the Merkava tanks and Namer APCs, which have been demonstrating their effectiveness during the recent war. This transaction is one of several strategic moves by the IMoD to ensure the IDF’s operational needs are consistently met, both now and in the future.
Under the terms of the agreement, Ashot Ashkelon will manufacture and supply critical components for the Merkava tanks and Namer APCs, including 1,200 and 1,500 horsepower transmissions, suspensions, and drive systems, at a total cost of over $23 million . The deal also includes the procurement of spare parts and the restoration of advanced systems, which will be delivered to the IDF over the next two years.
Ashot Ashkelon, specialising in the production of complex drive systems, transmissions, and other unique components for armoured vehicles, is a crucial supplier for the IDF’s armoured vehicle programs, ensuring the operational readiness and longevity of these critical defence systems.
-The writer is an Israel-based freelance journalist. The views expressed are of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the views of Raksha Anirveda
