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Eitan AFV

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Eitan
TypeArmoured fighting vehicle
Place of origin Israel
 USA [1]
Service history
In serviceSince May 2023[2]
Used byIsrael Israel Defense Forces
Wars2023 Israel-Hamas war
Production history
DesignerMinistry’s Tank Development Program Directorate (Mantak)
Designed2016
ManufacturerUnited States 60 % Oshkosh, Allison

Israel Elbit, Plasan, Rafael

Germany MTU
Unit costUSD $3 million [3]
ProducedSince 2020 (serial production) [4]
VariantsArmoured personnel carrier ;
Infantry fighting vehicle
Specifications
Mass30–35 tonnes
Length8.0 m (26.2 ft)
Width3.0 m (9.8 ft)
Height3.0 m (9.8 ft)
Crew3 (commander, driver, RCWS operator)[5]
Passengers9 troops
ArmorIron Fist Light Decoupled APS
Main
armament
Samson RCWS (Katlanit) with a M2 machine gun (APC variant)
Secondary
armament
Pintle-mounted 7.62mm NATO machine gun (APC variant)
EngineMTU 6V890 diesel engine [6] 6.67-litre
750 PS (552 kW)
TransmissionAllison 4800 SP
Suspension8x8
Operational
range
1,000 km (620 mi)
Maximum speed 90 km/h (56 mph)

Eitan (Hebrew for "steadfast", "firm" or "strong") is an armoured fighting vehicle (AFV) developed by the Merkava and Armoured Vehicles Directorate in the IMOD to replace the ageing M113 armoured personnel carrier in use by the Israel Defense Forces.[7] Its armored personnel carrier (APC) variant lacks the Iron Fist APS, due to the fact those are not the serial production Eitan vehicles yet. The infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) variant is still not in service.

Overview

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An Eitan of the Nahal Brigade in 2020

The Eitan is an 8-wheeled vehicle much lighter than the Namer, weighing less than 35 tons,[8] fitted with the Iron Fist Light Decoupled active protection system.[9] The AFV has a top speed of 90 km/h and can carry up to 12 soldiers including 3 crew. The Eitan can be equipped with a 30–40 mm gun and a missile firing position with 2 Spike missiles.[10] The armour is rated to the standard STANAG 4569 level 4.

The Eitan will replace hundreds of M113 APC currently in service.[11] According to Brigadier General Baruch Matzliah, the vehicle will complement, not replace, the Namer tracked APC;[12] as a wheeled vehicle, it will cost half as much as the Namer ($3 million) and, unlike tracked vehicles, can transport infantry squads on roads without relying on tank transporters.

The Eitan has the capability to use run-flat tires and is designed with a NERA composite armour and high floor to protect from landmine and IED blast effects.[11] The first Eitan AFV was unveiled on August 1, 2016.[13]

Serial production started in 2022, and the Nahal Brigade became the first Israeli infantry unit to receive the Eitan in May 2023.[14] The brigade first used the Eitan during the Battle of Zikim on 7 October 2023, and there were plans to use the vehicle in the subsequent invasion of the Gaza Strip.[15]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Israel announces serial production of new advanced 'Eitan' APC". The Times of Israel.
  2. ^ "Israel Defense Forces Takes Delivery of Eitan Armored Fighting Vehicles". militaryleak.
  3. ^ "Eitan". militarytoday.
  4. ^ "Defense Ministry begins serial production of the IDF's Eitan APC". The Jerusalem Post.
  5. ^ BECKHUSEN, Robert (6 August 2016). "Israel's Next Troop Taxi Is a Giant, Armored Carapace". War Is Boring. Archived from the original on 25 August 2016. Retrieved 6 August 2016.
  6. ^ "Oshkosh Defense to Produce Hundreds of Eitan Armored Vehicles for Israel". Defense Update.
  7. ^ Fabian, Emanuel. "Defense Ministry to deliver first new advanced 'Eitan' APC to IDF". www.timesofisrael.com. Retrieved 2023-03-29.
  8. ^ Opall, Barbara (4 August 2016). "Israel Unveils Wheeled, Actively Protected Armored Carrier". Defense News. Retrieved 4 August 2016.[dead link‍]
  9. ^ Israeli Ministry of Defense Selects Elbit Systems' Iron Fist Light Decoupled Active Protection System for the Eitan AFV. PRNewswire. 20 August 2019.
  10. ^ "Israel unveils its first wheeled APC". Globes. 8 January 2016.
  11. ^ a b Eshel, Tamir (1 August 2016). "Israel Develops a Highly Protected APC to Replace Thousands of M-113 'Tin Cans'". Defense Update. Retrieved 18 August 2016.
  12. ^ Lappin, Yaakov (4 August 2016). "Israel unveils first wheeled APC". IHS Janes. Archived from the original on 2016-08-04. Retrieved 4 August 2016.
  13. ^ Lapin, Yaakov (1 August 2016). "The Eitan APC will come with an active protection system, and its high speed will enable rapid deployment of forces between North and South. armor STANAG 4569 level 4". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 18 August 2016.
  14. ^ First Eitan wheeled APCs delivered to Israel’s IDF. Breaking Defense. 31 May 2023.
  15. ^ "טבילת האש הראשונה: נגמ"ש "האיתן" חיסל מחבלים בחוף זיקים" (in Hebrew). Walla! News. October 18, 2023.
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