Frag Out! Magazine
Issue link: https://fragout.uberflip.com/i/1365706
pact on the maneuverability of the vehicle. But should an IED explode underneath the MBT, the solution protects the bottom part of the hull from perforation. Due to the weight of the IEDs used by Hezbollah and Hamas (exceeding 100 kilograms), the MBTs are often flipped upside down. Nonetheless, the extra plates prevent any rupturing of the crew compartment, preventing the shockwave or any other factors from entering its interior. Active soft kill protection system has become another ace up the Merkava's sleeve, in the case of the Mk 2 BATASH variant. It probably has been designed not to detect laser beams, as its role is rather to jam the SACLOS ATGMs. The system consists of a mast placed behind the loaders' hatch and it features eight glass panels that most probably hide the IR emitters. In the case of the SACLOS ATGMs, the operator needs to place the crosshairs over the target, while the control unit tracks the ATGM and calculates the adjustment to its trajectory. The adjustments are transmitted via a cable, to the missile in flight. To make it possible to track the ATGM during the flight, it features a Xenon tube or IR emitter in the rear part. The legacy ATGMs had no selectable frequency. Thus, when a random source of IR radiation was turned on by the MBT, the control unit was confused, losing the marker and being unable to adjust the trajectory of the missile properly. Jamming systems as such have been developed in the USSR in the 1980s...but also in the US (AN/VLQ-6). Israel designed a similar system around the year 2000. The system's name has not been disclosed. Author: Staselnik Author: Matanya MBTs. Neutralization of 3 Merkava Mk 2B MBTs in the autumn of 1997 has become the ultimate trigger - and the resulting loss of life accelerated the process even further. Israeli special armor underwent a major change and evolution. It could be stated that simple NERA design evolved into NxRA (Non-eXplosive Reactive Armour ). The armor is similar to NERA layouts. However, the individual reac- tive packs consist of two steel plates of equal thickness and an intermediary layer that is reactive, but not explosive. Not only does the intermediary lay- er transfer energy from one plate to another. It also stores it, and, exposed to compression, it then releases it in mere milliseconds. As a result of the above, once the penetrator enters the external plate, the intermediary layer decompresses itself thus setting the steel plates forming the special armor in motion. Several layers as such initiate movement of several thin steel plates, with that movement being able to disrupt the shaped charge blast, or break the core of a sabot round. In such circumstances as such the effectors can be stopped by the armor's backplate. The effectiveness of any protection system as such depends on the inclination angle of at least 45 degrees, or more than 60 degrees - optimally (in relation to the vertical plane). In 1988 a new armor design for the Merkava Mk 2B was unveiled. The Mk 2 BATASH vehicles were fitted with NxRA packages optimized to counter- act the HEAT rounds. The thickness was not significant - 15-20 cm. The in- novation stemmed from the angles making it possible to protect the MBT from HEAT rounds within angles range of +/- 90° in relation to the axis of the turret, and +/- 35° in relation to the axis of the hull. Due to the minor thickness of the modules, no more than NxRA layers could be placed inside. Notably, some photos are also circulated depicting the Mk 2 BATASH tanks with mixed aprons, both new, as well as old ones. Legacy armor design has been implemented for the top of the turret, with a small piece of NxRA being placed over the gun hood. The available data makes it impossible to assess whether the armor modules left and right of L7 are new. However, their sur- face area is different. The sides of the turret now feature four (right side) and five (left side) wedge-shaped NxRA modules. Each of the modules is a multi-layered one, it can be rapidly replaced. The hull, meanwhile, features new NxRA modules in front of the driver's seat and above the left track cover. The sides of the hull were reinforced, through the replacement of 9 segments of the heavy apron with a new layout. The above applies to both sides of the vehicle. The first segment remains unchanged. The sides of the hull, above the track, have also been changed, armor-wise. In the case of the right side, the armor still covers the area in front, and behind the exhaust. The exhaust has been covered with a net that prevents any attempt to throw in a Molotov cocktail. The last three sections of the armor have been replaced with NxRA modules. In the case of the left side, solely the second armor module has remained unchanged. The new armor provided protection for the sides of the turret, and the hull, from legacy RPG systems and the low-end ATGMs. The front part of the tur- ret, and its sides, were protected from modern anti-tank assets using tandem warheads, up to an angle of 35° in relation to the longitudinal axis of the tur- ret. The ATGMs from which the turret was protected included Fagot, Metis, Konkurs, Milan, and Iranian TOW clones. 100 Merkava Mk 2 MBTs received the new armor as well - most plausibly. These MBTs are used in a patrol role close to the border. Due to the irregular profile of the warfare in the region, IED protection levels have become a burning matter. For a myriad of design reasons, the Merkavas do not feature any shock-absorbing solution in the crew seats. Additional deflector steel plate, in the shape of flat "V", was installed underneath the hull instead, with a thickness of 60-80 mm. The plate may have a detrimental im- www.fragoutmag.com