According to a colleague of olegranovsky, the first production model of the new Israeli wheeled armored personnel carrier Eitan (8x8) ("Eitan") was completed at the Israeli tank factory "Merkava" as part of the Repair and Restoration Center (MASHA) of the Main Department of Technology and Logistics (ATAL) of the Israeli Ministry of Defense in Tel-a-Shomer. The roll-out was performed at a ceremony on June 14, 2022.
The first production model of the new Israeli wheeled armored personnel carrier Eitan (8x8) ("Eitan"), 06/14/2022 (c) Ministry of Defense of Israel
The head of the Department of Armored Vehicles of the Ministry of Defense of Israel (MANTAK), Brigadier General of the Reserve Guy Paglin, said at the roll-out ceremony: "The Eitan project was born as a withdrawal from Operation Tsuk Eitan ["Unbreakable Rock" - the Israeli military operation in the Gaza Strip in 2014]. A few months ago, we completed the development and started serial production of armored personnel carriers at 70 industrial enterprises in Israel and abroad, during assembly here at the Merkava plant. The Eitan armored personnel carrier will gradually enter the combat units of the Israel Defense Forces. Every armored personnel carrier that leaves the walls of the plant will allow us to replace the outdated M113s, which are still in service and much less protected, and will give our fighters the means with the best protection and the best performance characteristics in various combat conditions."
The following TTX of the serial Eitan armored personnel carrier are officially listed:
The wheel formula is 8x8.
Engine - 750 hp [MTU]
The crew and landing party - 12 people.
The maximum speed is 90 km/h.
High maneuverability in different terrain conditions, including construction.
Booking - based on technologies created for the Merkava tank and Namer heavy armored personnel carrier
KAZ - "Hetz Dorban" [Elbit Systems Iron Fist - has not yet been installed on the presented serial sample].
Capable of autonomous actions during several days of war.
A system of all-round video cameras, day and night.
Combat control system with touch screens.
From the bmpd side, we recall that the development of a promising Israeli wheeled armored personnel carrier Eitan (8x8) It was carried out by order of the Israel Defense Forces under the leadership of the Merkava Tank Development Department of the Armored Vehicles Department of the Ministry of Defense of Israel (MANTAK). The first prototype of the APC was built in the fall of 2015, then two more prototypes were built, including one with a turret. About 50% of the components of the Eitan armored personnel carrier should be produced in the United States in order to partially finance the production of armored personnel carriers at the expense of American military assistance to Israel.
The first production model of the new Israeli wheeled armored personnel carrier Eitan (8x8) ("Eitan"), 06/14/2022 (c) the Ministry of Defense of Israel
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