Editing Merkava (section)

===Merkava LIC===
[[File:Merkeva Mk 3D - Israeli Tanks 2019-04-21 IZE-36.jpg|thumb|Merkava Mk 3D Baz with LIC upgrades]]
These are Merkava Mark 3 BAZ or Mark 4 tanks, converted for urban warfare. The LIC designation stands for "[[low intensity conflict]]", underlining its emphasis on counter-insurgency, street-to-street inner-city asymmetrical type warfare of the 21st century.<ref name="defense1">{{cite web |url=http://www.defense-update.com/products/m/merkava-lic.htm |title=LIC Modeled Merkava Mk-3 Baz |access-date=2008-07-04 |work=Defense Update |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070627140305/http://www.defense-update.com/products/m/merkava-lic.htm |archive-date=June 27, 2007}}</ref>

The Merkava is equipped with a turret 12.7&nbsp;mm caliber coaxial machine gun, which enables the crew to lay down fairly heavy cover fire without using the main gun (which is relatively ineffective against individual enemy combatants). Like the new remote-operated weapon station, the coaxial machine-gun is fired from inside the tank without exposing the crew to small-arms fire and snipers.

The most sensitive areas of a tank, its optics, exhaust ports and ventilators, are all protected by a newly developed high-strength metal mesh to prevent explosive charges being planted there.<ref name="defense1"/>

Rubber whip pole-markers with LED tips and a driver's rear-facing camera have been installed to improve navigation and maneuverability in an urban environment by day or by night.