Eitan to field alongside Namer
The Israel Defense Force unveiled its 8x8 Eitan (Hebrew for ‘steadfast’) APC demonstrator on 1 August 2016.
It is the first wheeled APC developed for the IDF by the MoD’s Tank Programme Administration (MANTAK) and is designed to replace some the army’s US-supplied tracked M113s.
The loss of M113s during recent combat operations, notably Operation Protective Edge in the Gaza Strip in July-August 2014, prompted calls from politicians, the media and others within Israel to provide better protection for its troops.
Eitan is expected to enter service from 2020. The army has an estimated 5,500 M113A1/A2 APCs, although most are
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