For First Time: Merkava Tanks are For Sale
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 be lost.