Agrégateur de flux

Russian propaganda has actively spread many fakes about the EU and European leadership to demoralise Ukrainians but failed to influence their pro-European intentions.

Mintegy 545 kilogramm, az Egyesült Államokból származó metamfetamint foglaltak le a hatóságok a múlt héten Brüsszelben - közölte szerdán a szövetségi igazságügyi rendőrség.

Les athlètes français sont dans les starting-blocks pour réaliser une moisson de médailles inédite et atteindre l’objectif de terminer dans le Top 5 du classement des nations.

Summary and Key Points: In a significant display of military cooperation, Russian Tupolev Tu-95 and Chinese Xi'an H-6 bombers conducted a joint patrol near the Alaska Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) this week. Detected and intercepted by NORAD, the bombers remained in international airspace and did not pose a threat to North American security.

-This unprecedented joint patrol highlights the deepening military ties between Russia and China. NORAD's response included fighter jets from both the U.S. and Canada, ensuring robust monitoring of the activity.

-Despite the heightened alert, the patrol adhered to international law, with no violations of U.S. or Canadian sovereign airspace.

Russia and China Send Joint Bomber Patrol Near Alaska

It hasn't been uncommon in recent years for Russian Tupolev Tu-95 (NATO reporting name Bear) long-range bombers to be spotted near, and even within, the Alaska Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ). The Kremlin has increased what it calls routine patrols over neutral waters, but what made the flight on Wednesday "unique" is that a pair of the Tu-95s was accompanied by two Chinese People's Liberation Army Air Force Xi'an H-6 bombers.

The H-6, which is the PLAAF's primary bomber aircraft, is a license-built version of the Soviet-designed Tupolev Tu-16.

According to a statement from the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), it "detected, tracked, and intercepted" the four aircraft – with NORAD fighter jets from both the United States and Canada taking part in Wednesday's intercept.

"The Russian and PRC aircraft remained in international airspace and did not enter American or Canadian sovereign airspace. This Russian and PRC activity in the Alaska ADIZ is not seen as a threat, and NORAD will continue to monitor competitor activity near North America and meet presence with presence," NORAD announced.

It was clear where the U.S. and Canadian aircraft were deployed from, or what kind of fighters took part in the intercept. In the past U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptors and F-16 Fighting Falcons have been sortied to intercept the Russian bombers, while Canadian NORAD Region (CANR) – headquartered at the 1 Canadian Air Division in Winnipeg, Manitoba, operates the CF-18 Hornet, a Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) variant of the American McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet fighter.

The Russian Version

The Russian Ministry of Defense has claimed that the patrol "was carried out as part of the 2024 military cooperation plan and was not directed against third countries," while it claimed the joint flight of the Chinese and Russian bombers lasted more than five hours.

"An air group of the Tu-95MS strategic bombers of the Russian Aerospace Forces and the Hong-6K strategic bombers of the Chinese People's Liberation Army Air Force conducted a joint air patrol over the Chukchi Sea, the Bering Sea and the northern part of the Pacific Ocean. Russian and Chinese crews practiced cooperation while carrying out an air patrol mission in a new area. The Su-30SM and Su-35S aircraft of the Russian Aerospace Forces provided fighter cover," read a statement from the ministry to state media outlet TASS.

The ministry further stressed that none of the two sets of bombers violated the airspace of the United States or any other country, but acknowledged the intercept.

 "Foreign fighter jets escorted the air group at certain stages of the route. While performing the mission, both countries' aircraft acted in strict compliance with international law. There were no violations of other countries' airspace," the statement noted.

NORAD also stressed that the Chinese and Russian aircraft never entered U.S. airspace during the patrol flight, but did enter the ADIZ, which "begins where sovereign airspace ends and is a defined stretch of international airspace that requires the ready identification of all aircraft in the interest of national security."

Russia's Tu-95 Bear Bomber

The Russian Aerospace Force continues to operate the Tu-95MS, a highly updated heavy variant of the early Cold War era aircraft that first entered service in 1952. It is now among the oldest aircraft designs still flying anywhere in the world and is the only propeller-powered bomber in operation today.

Yet, it continues to log the miles in the sky. The current models have a reported range that is greater than 9,300 miles (15,000 km) – allowing to make the round-trip flights to the Alaskan ADIZ from bases in the Russian Far East.

Author Experience and Expertise: Peter Suciu

Peter Suciu is a Michigan-based writer. He has contributed to more than four dozen magazines, newspapers, and websites with over 3,200 published pieces over a twenty-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a Contributing Writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu. You can email the author: Editor@nationalinterest.org.

Image Credit: Shutterstock or Creative Commons. 

The European Commission found serious enforcement issues with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and called for clearer guidelines to strengthen data protection across member states in a report published on Thursday (25 July).

La Cour européenne des droits de l’homme a jugé, jeudi, que la législation française qui criminalise l’achat d’actes sexuels était légale et ne violait pas le droit à la vie privée.

Les syndicats du crime en Afrique de l'Ouest commettent beaucoup de crimes sur le continent et ailleurs, font des victimes et causent d'énormes pertes aux entreprises ainsi qu'aux particuliers.

Summary and Key Points: Denmark and the Netherlands continue their strong support for Ukraine by announcing the delivery of an additional fourteen German-made Leopard 2A4 main battle tanks (MBTs).

-These tanks, purchased last year and refurbished by Rheinmetall, are expected to arrive in Ukraine by the end of the summer.

-Despite previous issues with older Leopard 1 MBTs, this new batch aims to bolster Ukraine's defenses against Russian aggression.

-The Leopard 2, renowned for its advanced capabilities, has seen extensive use in conflicts like the War in Afghanistan and the Syrian Civil War, proving its effectiveness in modern combat.

Ukraine to Receive 14 Refurbished Leopard 2A4 Tanks from Denmark and Netherlands

NATO members Denmark and the Netherlands remain staunch supporters of Ukraine. Each has supplied Kyiv with American-made F-16 Fighting Falcon multirole fighter aircraft and previously had pledged to supply Leopard 2 main battle tanks (MBTs) to aid Ukraine's war effort.

On Thursday, both nations announced they will send an additional fourteen of the German-made Leopard 2A4 MBTs in the coming weeks, after buying the tanks last year for 165 million euros ($186 million). The MBTs have been serviced and refurbished by the German-based Rheinmetall for deployment to the frontlines – a process that has been completed.

"Yesterday and today, the last two Leopard 2s are undergoing their verification tests as part of the delivery. All 14 tanks will be delivered simultaneously before the end of the summer," the Dutch Ministry of Defense announced."Ukraine urgently needs more military support, given the heavy fighting on the battlefield. These tanks can play an important role for the Ukrainian army to defend itself against Russian troops. The Netherlands, together with allies and partners, will continue to support Ukraine unabated, for as long as necessary. This is crucial to protect Ukraine and keep Putin's aggression at bay," said Dutch Defense Minister Ruben Brekelmans.

Denmark, Germany, and the Netherlands had also pledged to supply around 100 older Leopard 1 MBTs, but it was reported in May that many of the tanks were found to have significant defects. Significant repairs needed to be made, and that issue served to put a spotlight on NATO's readiness and the reliability of some of its member states' military hardware.

The NATO Tank

The German-made Leopard 2 is considered among the best MBTs in service today, although it wasn't really "proven" in combat until the War in Afghanistan and the Syrian Civil War – decades after it first entered service. Developed in the 1970s to replace the older Leopard 1, the Leopard 2 was adopted by the West German Bundeswehr in 1979 and has been exported to nations around the world.

The third-generation 55-ton Leopard 2 is armed with a 120mm smoothbore main gun and equipped with a digital fire control system. The MBT has been steadily upgraded and is in active service with numerous NATO members, including those nations that directly border Russia.

Currently, the Polish Armed Forces operates the Leopard 2PL, a modernized version of the older Leopard 2A4. Modernization of the MBT is being carried out in cooperation with Rheinmetall and the Polish Armaments Group. As of the end of last year, the Polish Army has 62 Leopard 2 in the PL/PLM1 version in service out of a planned 142 vehicles.

Despite its capabilities, the Leopard 2 isn't a super weapon – a point noted as more than two dozen have reportedly been seriously damaged or destroyed in Ukraine. However, the frontlines in the ongoing fighting have become a graveyard for tanks, with thousands lost by Russia in the now more than two-and-a-half-year-long war.

Author Experience and Expertise: Peter Suciu

Peter Suciu is a Michigan-based writer. He has contributed to more than four dozen magazines, newspapers, and websites with over 3,200 published pieces over a twenty-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a Contributing Writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu. You can email the author: Editor@nationalinterest.org.

Image Credit: Shutterstock. 

African heavyweight champion Adam Olaore is following a similar path to Anthony Joshua as he seeks to make history for Nigeria.

African heavyweight champion Adam Olaore is following a similar path to Anthony Joshua as he seeks to make history for Nigeria.

Kommissionspräsidentin Ursula von der Leyen hat in ihren politischen Leitlinien die Forderung nach umfangreichen Forschungsinvestitionen im Bereich der künstlichen Intelligenz (KI) angesprochen. Sowohl Befürworter als auch Kritiker bemängeln, dass ihrem Plan unter dem Motto „CERN für KI“ entscheidende Details fehlen.

/ Nouvelle-Calédonie, Démographie, Pauvreté, Peuples autochtones - Océanie / Nouvelle-Calédonie, Démographie, Pauvreté, Peuples autochtones - Océanie

Lors d’un entretien avec Euractiv, le commissaire sortant à l’Agriculture, Janusz Wojciechowski, a qualifié d’« inacceptable » le fait de disposer d’un budget européen basé sur des conditions politiques et des échéances, comme c’est le cas pour le fonds de relance post-pandémique de l’UE.

Summary and Key Points: The Israeli Air Force (IAF) carried out a strategic airstrike on oil facilities in Al Hudaydah, Yemen, following a lethal drone attack by Houthi rebels on Tel Aviv. This unprecedented strike involved a dozen aircraft, including the advanced F-35I Adir, showcasing Israel's aerial capabilities.

-The F-35I, a customized version of the American-made Joint Strike Fighter, is central to Israel's air superiority and defensive strategy.

-This operation highlights the evolving threats Israel faces from regional proxies like the Houthi rebels, who have intensified their attacks on Israeli and international targets, and demonstrates the critical role of the F-35I Adir in Israel's military response.

F-35I Attack on Houthis:

Over the weekend, the Israeli Air Force carried out strikes targeting oil facilities in a port on Yemen’s west coast. 

This unprecedented attack followed a lethal drone bombing by Houthi rebels on Tel Aviv last Thursday. The IAF published video footage of its retaliatory barrage, showing fighter jets being refueled as part of the “Outstretched Arm” operation. 

Other videos showing the aftermath of the strikes in the Al Hudaydah port city have circulated showing massive fires and explosions at the oil terminal. The raid marks the first time Israel has carried out an airstrike in Yemen and highlights the significant role the F-35I Adir fighter plays in the Jewish state’s security arsenal.

“A short while ago, IDF fighter jets struck military targets of the Houthi terrorist regime in the area of the Al Hudaydah Port in Yemen in response to the hundreds of attacks carried out against the State of Israel in recent months,” the IDF said on Telegram shortly after the strike. “There are no changes in the Home Front Command defensive guidelines. In the case of a change to the guidelines, we will update the public accordingly. Details to follow.” 

On July 19, a long-range Iran-designed UAV struck the center of heavily populated Tel Aviv in the middle of the night, killing one civilian and injuring four others. Tehran’s willingness and capability to use its regional proxies to strike inside Israeli territory has only increased since Hamas’s October 7 massacre. The Houthi rebels are also responsible for dozens of attacks over the last nine months targeting U.S., Israeli, and international shipping and commercial vessels in the Red Sea. According to Israel, Houthi rebels have fired more than 220 ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and drones at Israel since October.  

An Overview of the F-35I Adir Platform

While details of the strike have yet to be confirmed, the IAF’s long-range strike capabilities should worry Israel’s adversaries. According to an Al Arabiya report, a dozen Israeli aircraft were used in the port city attack, and these included the fifth-generation Adir platform. 

Israel’s air superiority over the Middle East can perhaps be attributed to the Adir, its unique F-35 stealth fighter variant. The IAF is the only military on Earth to possess a custom version of the American-made Joint Strike Fighter. Back in 2010, the Jewish state became the first nation outside the aircraft’s nine-nation co-development group to purchase the jet. Manufacturer Lockheed Martin agreed to allow Israel to incorporate its own domestic technologies into the platform to suit its specific defensive needs.

When the IAF acquired the F-35I Adir “Mighty One” variant, it was granted permission to equip its new fighters with a homegrown Electronic Warfare System. Additionally, homegrown countermeasures, sensors, and helmet-mounted displays were built into the Adir fighters.  The F-35 is widely considered the best fifth-generation fighter in the skies today, and Israel’s specialized variant is arguably the most advanced. 

In 2019, the IAF’s Adir fleet flew in its first combat operation when it carried out strikes in Syria to target Iranian assets on the ground. Prior to this, the Lightning II platform had not been used in combat operations. In 2021, the IAF’s Adir jets also carried out the platform’s first ever aerial engagement, destroying an Iran-launched UAV that was flying close to the Israeli border.

The Adirs’ Role in Post-10/7 Israel

Since October 7, Israel’s Adir fleet has participated in operations against the Gaza-based terror group Hamas. The IAF previously confirmed that one of its Adir jets successfully intercepted a cruise missile and has remained instrumental to the country’s defensive efforts. 

The F-35I is undoubtedly the best aerial weapon in the IAF’s arsenal. However, the Jewish state’s other airframes, including the F-15I and F-16I, should not be discounted. Each of these airframes contributes different capabilities, and together they create the versatile and robust arsenal Israel needs to defend itself.

About the Author: Maya Carlin 

Maya Carlin, National Security Writer with The National Interest, is an analyst with the Center for Security Policy and a former Anna Sobol Levy Fellow at IDC Herzliya in Israel. She has by-lines in many publications, including The National Interest, Jerusalem Post, and Times of Israel. You can follow her on Twitter: @MayaCarlin. 

All images are Creative Commons. 

Soixante-huit parlementaires français, dont vingt-six eurodéputés, ont adressé mercredi 24 juillet une lettre à la Première ministre du Danemark, Mette Frederiksen, appelant à la libération de Paul Watson, le fondateur de l’ONG de protection des espèces marines, Sea Shepherd.

Summary and Key Points: In early July, Ukraine executed a successful drone strike on a Russian ammunition depot in Voronezh Oblast, destroying the facility and highlighting the deficiencies in Russia's air defense capabilities.

-The strike exacerbates Russia's already strained logistical chains and material shortages on the frontlines. British Military Intelligence noted the depot's significant size and its role in supplying munitions, emphasizing the detrimental impact on Russia's attritional warfare strategy.

-This attack underscores the ongoing challenges faced by the Russian military, which has resorted to using outdated equipment and seeking support from foreign partners like Iran and North Korea. The Ukrainian military's access to long-range precision munitions, such as HIMARS and MLRS, has been pivotal in targeting high-value assets within Russia.

Ukraine's Precision Attack Deepens Russian Military Shortages

Ukraine’s forces took out a big ammunition depot inside Russia with a suicide drone, highlighting the shortcomings of the Russian military’s air defense capabilities, while also deepening ongoing materiel shortages in the frontlines.

Ukrainian Drone Strike  

In early July, the Ukrainian military launched a drone strike against a Russian ammunition storage depot near Sergeerka, Voronezh Oblast in Russia. As a result of the strike, the Russian ammunition storage depot was almost completely destroyed, as well as nearby facilities, according to open-source reporting.

“This is a significant loss at a depot that reportedly covered approximately 9 square kilometres. The depot was highly likely storing a mixture of surface-to-surface munitions as well as small arms to be used by personnel on the frontlines,” British Military Intelligence assessed in its latest estimate of the war.

“This will further stretch Russia’s already struggling logistics chains and force yet more dispersals due to the continued threat of Ukrainian strikes,” British Military Intelligence added.

Almost 900 days of intense fighting have stretched Russia’s military resources thin. The Kremlin has had to take out of storage main battle tanks, infantry fighting vehicles, and artillery pieces built in the 1950s. Moreover, Russian troops don’t have enough tactical vehicles to support their offensive operations and they are relying on golf carts to go into battle.

The Ukrainian drone strike also highlights the poor state of Russia’s air defenses: they can’t even protect a high-value target that is located very close to the frontlines.

“Such shortcomings will almost certainly see further losses to other well-planned Ukrainian strikes,” British Military Intelligence assessed.

“Russia can ill afford such losses considering the attritional warfare strategy it has adopted, which shows little regard for the lives of its soldiers. This approach requires huge amounts of ammunition,” the British Military Intelligence concluded.

To make up for ammunition and weapon shortages, the Kremlin has been dealing with foreign partners, such as Iran and North Korea, to ensure that its troops on the frontlines have the bare minimum they need to fight. Iranian drones, particularly the Shahed unmanned aerial systems, have proven very capable and deadly. However, the overall quality of the foreign munitions and weapons used by the Russian forces on the frontlines isn’t the best.

In previous months, the Ukrainian military has started targeting and taking out high-value targets inside Russia; the attacks have been occurring with the acquiescence of the West, which provides the vast majority of Ukraine’s arsenal.

The introduction of long-range precision munitions to the Ukrainian arsenal has allowed for accurate strikes against Russian high-value targets inside Ukraine as well. The M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) and M270 Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) have been the bane of Russian ammunition depots, command and control centers, and other logistical hubs close to the frontlines.

The Russian military continues to be under serious strain, with its losses exceeding 560,000 men killed, wounded, or captured.

About the Author 

Stavros Atlamazoglou is a seasoned defense journalist specializing in special operations and a Hellenic Army veteran (national service with the 575th Marine Battalion and Army HQ). He holds a BA from Johns Hopkins University and an MA from Johns Hopkins’ School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS). His work has been featured in Business Insider, Sandboxx, and SOFREP.

All images are Creative Commons and or Shutterstock. 

Summary and Key Points: The U.S. Navy's Ford-class aircraft carriers, including the USS Gerald R. Ford, are the most advanced and expensive in the world, costing around $13.3 billion each and $726 million annually to maintain. Despite their capabilities, these carriers face significant threats from advanced anti-ship missiles and A2/AD systems, making their survival in combat questionable.

-The high costs and strategic vulnerabilities raise concerns about their viability, especially given America's rising national debt and economic constraints.

-Critics argue that the U.S. cannot afford to continue its reliance on such costly and potentially vulnerable platforms.

America Can’t Afford the Ford-class Carrier

The U.S. Navy loves its aircraft carriers. Ever since they proved themselves as the premier naval power projection platform in the fiery cauldron of the Second World War’s Pacific Theater, the Navy has prized these systems. America led the world in innovating this unique platform and retains the world’s dominant fleet of flattops. 

Of 11 U.S. carriers, 10 belong to the Nimitz class, and the newest carrier, USS Gerald R. Ford, belongs to the newly minted Ford class of carriers. (USS Enterprise, USS John F. Kennedy, and USS Doris Miller are all coming online as part of this family.) 

Officially, the Navy website describes USS Gerald R. Ford’s as being “the most capable, adaptable, and lethal combat platform in the world, maintaining the Navy’s capacity to project power on a global scale through sustained operations at sea.” 

The Navy Doesn’t Get It

This flowery description misses the mark, though. In reality, Gerald R. Ford is an unaffordable mess-heap; a hodgepodge of some of the most advanced technologies the Navy had access to, thrown together, and sent forward as the next-generation platform without much thought to price or efficacy. Indeed, the advent of technologies, like advanced anti-ship missiles, as well as the wider threat that anti-access/area-denial (A2/AD) poses to the very existence of aircraft carriers, makes the survival of carriers in combat very low. 

Here's a snapshot of what I’m referring to: After the heinous October 7 terrorist attacks conducted by Iran-backed Hamas against neighboring Israel, the U.S. Navy deployed USS Gerald R. Ford to the region. But rumors abounded that the Navy wanted to keep the Ford at a distance from the shores of the region, fearing that Hezbollah’s anti-ship missiles posed a danger to the newly minted carrier. 

It doesn’t really matter whether the Hezbollah anti-ship missile threat posed a significant danger or not. The fact that American naval strategists wanted to stymie the deployment of their newfangled carrier too close to hostile shores shows how vulnerable these systems are. 

So, is the Gerald R. Ford class worth the expenditure of time, finite resources, and money?

Let’s first address the cost of these monstrosities. 

A Cost Like No Other

The first unit of this new class of carrier, the aforementioned USS Gerald R. Ford, cost an astonishing $13.3 billion to build. It also took a decade to build. This, in turn, ensured the costs of the program would increase. 

And as for maintaining this massive, highly complex system, that will cost around $726 million per year (this includes the cost of personnel, fuel, maintenance, and the airwing).

Proponents of this costly and complex system argue that USS Gerald R. Ford, being the first of her class, was always going to be an expensive system. Subsequent units, such as John F. Kennedy or Doris Miller will be substantially lower in cost to produce. In fact, these proponents insist that these boats are “now slated to cost about $5 billion per ship less than its predecessor, the Nimitz class, over the life of the ship,” according to Breaking Defense.

Bear in mind that these are all projections and most defense budgeting projections are rarely accurate. 

At $13 billion to produce, and nearly $1 billion to maintain, what do you think might happen if the US were to lose even one of these boats in combat? 

Well, America’s foes are certainly envisioning such a reality. China’s leadership has already stated they plan to sink at least three aircraft carriers with their complex arsenal of A2/AD systems, if war erupted between themselves and the United States. You’ve seen how U.S. carrier operations were complicated by the Houthi as well as Hamas anti-ship threats. 

These Aircraft Carriers are Useless in the Face of America’s Debt Bomb

This doesn’t even scratch the overarching matter of the pending debt bomb that is set to detonate soon in the United States economy. 

Interest repayments on America’s elephantine national debt today outstrip the overall cost of national defense. America simply cannot afford to go on the way that it has when it comes to defense spending.

And anything that can’t last, won’t. What this means for the Gerald R. Ford-class carrier is that they are an impossible dream concocted by Inside-the-Beltway types who just want to engorge themselves at the trough of the people’s tax dollars. That money is soon to evaporate, though, in a whirlwind of debt repayments and devaluation. 

The United States literally cannot afford its love affair with aircraft carriers anymore.

Author Experience and Expertise: Brandon J. Weichert

Brandon J. Weichert, a National Interest national security analyst, is a former Congressional staffer and geopolitical analyst who is a contributor at The Washington Times, the Asia Times, and The-Pipeline. He is the author of Winning Space: How America Remains a Superpower, Biohacked: China’s Race to Control Life, and The Shadow War: Iran’s Quest for Supremacy. His next book, A Disaster of Our Own Making: How the West Lost Ukraine, is due October 22 from Encounter Books. Weichert can be followed via Twitter @WeTheBrandon.

All images are Creative Commons or Shutterstock. Main image is from a fire aboard USS John F. Kennedy in 1968.

From the Vault

Russia Freaked Out: Why the U.S. Navy 'Unretired' the Iowa-Class Battleships

Battleship vs. Battlecruiser: Iowa-Class vs. Russia's Kirov-Class (Who Wins?)

Réélue le 18 juillet à la tête de la Commission européenne, Ursula von der Leyen va devoir marcher sur un fil pour constituer sa nouvelle équipe, en respectant les équilibres politiques et les désidératas des pays de l’Union, ainsi que l’égalité entre hommes et femmes.

Summary and Key Points: Israel's Merkava main battle tanks demonstrated their capabilities when a Hezbollah strike was intercepted by the Trophy active protection system. The Merkava, a critical component of the Israeli Armored Corps, is highly regarded alongside the U.S. Abrams and Britain's Challenger 2.

-Developed post-1973 Yom Kippur War to protect its crew, the tank features thick armor, a unique engine layout, and powerful armaments, including a 120 mm main gun.

-The latest fifth-generation "Barak" variant enhances intelligence and situational awareness with advanced sensors and a 360-degree Elbit helmet. The Merkava remains a cornerstone of Israel's defense strategy.

Israel’s Merkava Tank Profile

The Israeli military’s Merkava main battle tanks again proved their worth after a recent Hezbollah strike. 

The Iran-backed terror group claimed one of its Almas missiles struck an Israeli Merkava earlier this month. But analysis of a video shared by Hezbollah suggests the tank was able to employ its Trophy active protection system to detect and intercept the incoming projectile. 

The Merkava is the backbone of the Israeli Armored Corps and is widely considered as capable as more well-known Western MBTs including the U.S. Abrams and Britain’s Challenger 2. The Merkava platform is instrumental to Israel’s defensive strategy.

An Overview of the Merkava

During Israel’s early days as an independent nation after World War II, it quickly realized its need for protection against hostile neighbors. Until the 1960s, the Jewish state largely relied on joint projects and weapons deliveries from other nations. The IDF collaborated with the British to develop a Chieftain MBT variant, but the UK nixed this program since Chieftain tanks were already being supplied to Arab countries. Former IDF General Israel Tal then kickstarted plans to develop a completely homegrown MBT. 

In the 1973 Yom Kippur War, Israel’s armored corps suffered greatly during coordinated attacks launched by Egypt and Syria in the Sinai Peninsula and Golan Heights. Their enemies were equipped with some of the latest Soviet-designed tank variants of the time, and Israel’s own arsenal of less advanced MBTs could not keep up. For this reason, the Merkava tank would be built first and foremost to limit casualties.

Specs & Capabilities

In order to better protect its crew members, the Merkava was built with thick armor. The layout of the engine transmission was reversed in order to provide an extra level of protection for soldiers. This unique positioning also increased storage capacity and access for the tank’s operators. 

In terms of armaments, the Merkava has always packed a punch. The latest variant sports an IMI 120 mm L44 main gun, a 7.62 mm light machine gun, and an M2 Browning .50-caliber heavy machine gun. The tank’s main gun can also fire armor-piercing and high-explosive shells.

The Trophy active protection system might be the tank’s best attribute. This homegrown system protects the MBT from anti-tank rockets, high-explosive anti-tank rounds, anti-tank guided missiles, and other projectiles. It also increases the crew’s survivability by enhancing the MBT’s capacity to detect enemy tanks.

Introducing the “Barak” Merkava Variant

Last year, the IDF and Israel’s Defense Ministry revealed the fifth-generation “Barak” Merkava MBT after years of development. 

The Ministry detailed that the tanks are equipped with a “wide infrastructure of reliable sensors” that enabled better intelligence information: “The Barak tank will strengthen the capabilities of detecting enemies and will enable fighting against an enemy with a reduced signature and in all combat scenarios, on the current and future battlefield, against the entirety of threats that exist for the maneuvering force,” the Ministry added. The Barak variant will also provide a 360-degree Elbit helmet, which will provide the crew commander with a full view of their surroundings.

Considering the Merkava’s popularity, it is unlikely that the Israeli military will give up on its tried and tested tank series in the near future.

About the Author: Maya Carlin

Maya Carlin, National Security Writer with The National Interest, is an analyst with the Center for Security Policy and a former Anna Sobol Levy Fellow at IDC Herzliya in Israel. She has by-lines in many publications, including The National Interest, Jerusalem Post, and Times of Israel. You can follow her on Twitter: @MayaCarlin. 

All images are Creative Commons and/or Shutterstock. 

Ils sont présents dans presque toutes les activités quotidiennes, mais les obtenir est plus difficile qu'il n'y paraît.