Editing Merkava (section)

== Successor (Carmel) ==
On July 14, 2011, ''[[The Jerusalem Post]]'' reported that the IDF had begun developing a successor for the Merkava series of tanks. The development was begun in part by the arrival of the Trophy active protection system. With the system's ability to intercept threats at a stand-off distance, there was a review of the need for vehicles like the Merkava to have thick, heavy layers of armor.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.jpost.com/Defense/Article.aspx?id=229295 |title=IDF considering replacements for heavy Merkava tank |work=The Jerusalem Post |date=July 14, 2011 |url-status=live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130109041208/http://www.jpost.com/Defense/Article.aspx?id=229295 |archive-date=January 9, 2013}}</ref>

The Merkava Tank Planning Directorate set up a team to study principles for a future tank and present ideas for an armored fighting vehicle to provide mobile firepower on a future battlefield. The team reviewed basic design principles including lessening its weight, armor thickness compared to an APS to intercept anti-tank threats, reducing the crew size, and the type of main gun. Horsepower abilities and heavy and light track systems compared to a wheeled chassis were also considered. With future battlefield condition developments affecting design features, the vehicle may not be considered a "tank" in the traditional sense.<ref>{{Cite news |date=August 14, 2011 |url=http://www.israeldefense.com/?CategoryID=411&ArticleID=549 |title= After the Merkava: The Next Generation Tank |work=Israel defense |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131016045917/http://israeldefense.com/?CategoryID=411&ArticleID=549 |archive-date= October 16, 2013}}</ref>

By July 2012, details began to emerge of considerations for developing technologies for the new design. One possibility is the replacement of the traditional main gun with a [[directed-energy weapon|laser cannon]] or an [[railgun|electromagnetic cannon]]. Other improvements could include a [[hybrid electric vehicle|hybrid-electric engine]] and a reduced crew of two. The goals of the new tank are to make it faster, better protected, more interoperable and lethal than the prior Merkava.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Katz |first=Yaakov |date=July 12, 2012 |url=http://www.jpost.com/Defense/Article.aspx?id=277178 |title=The IDF's future tank: Electromagnetic cannon |work=The Jerusalem Post |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130103040434/http://www.jpost.com/Defense/Article.aspx?id=277178 |archive-date=January 3, 2013}}</ref>

The 65-tonne Merkava is not regarded as useful for missions other than conventional warfare. The Israeli Army Armored Corps wants a lighter and highly mobile vehicle for rapid-response and urban warfare situations that can fill multiple roles. In 2012, the [[Ministry of Defense (Israel)|Defense Ministry]] drafted a program for development of a new family of light armored vehicles called ''Rakiya'' (Heavens), a Hebrew acronym for "future manned combat vehicle" (FMCV). The FMCV is planned to weigh 35 tonnes and have sufficient armor and weapons for both urban and conventional military operations. Instead of one multi-mission chassis, separate vehicles in distinct variants will perform different roles with all vehicles using common components. Vehicles are likely to be wheeled to maneuver in urban environments and move troops and equipment around in built-up areas.

While the FMCV will be a fifth-generation vehicle as a follow-on to the Merkava IV, it will not be a replacement for the tank. The Merkava and Namer heavy tracked vehicles will remain in service for decades, while FMCV vehicles are to address entirely different operational requirements.

Although the program seems similar to the American [[Future Combat Systems]] effort, which failed to produce a family of rapidly deployable lightweight ground vehicles, program officials say they learned from the American experience and that the FMCV was more focused and driven by simpler and more reasonable requirements based on cost considerations.

Officials expect requirements for a range of configurations for FMCV light armored vehicles to be approved in 2014 and solicited to Israeli and American companies. The IDF hoped the FMCV family of vehicles would be operational by 2020.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Opall-Rome |first=Barbara |date=December 16, 2012 |url= http://www.defensenews.com/article/20121216/DEFREG04/312160001/Israel-Develop-Family-New-Armored-Vehicles |title=Israel to Develop Family of New Armored Vehicles |work=Defense news |archive-url=https://archive.today/20140206025922/http://www.defensenews.com/article/20121216/DEFREG04/312160001/Israel-Develop-Family-New-Armored-Vehicles |archive-date=February 6, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.worldtribune.com/2013/01/16/israel-lightens-up-will-replace-heavy-tanks-with-versatile-light-armored-vehicles/ |title=Israel lightens up: Will replace heavy tanks with versatile light armored vehicles |work= The World tribune |date=January 16, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140202200940/http://www.worldtribune.com/2013/01/16/israel-lightens-up-will-replace-heavy-tanks-with-versatile-light-armored-vehicles/ |archive-date=February 2, 2014}}</ref> The program was named Carmel around 2016, and three contractors, [[Elbit Systems|Elbit]], [[Rafael Advanced Defense Systems|Rafael]] and [[Israel Aerospace Industries|Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI)]], were to produce three prototypes by 2019.{{Refn|{{Cite news |last=Groß |first=Judah Ari |date=Aug 4, 2019 |title=Defense ministry unveils three prototypes for Israel's tanks of the future |work=The times of Israel |access-date=Aug 8, 2022 |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/defense-ministry-unveils-3-prototypes-for-israels-tanks-of-the-future/}}}}

On August 4, 2019, all three prototypes were tested. IAI's model was based on the company's existing unmanned, autonomous drone platforms, operated by a [[Xbox Wireless Controller|controller]] from the [[Xbox]] video game system; the tank had a large panoramic display, was able to assist the crew members in identifying targets and selecting weapons, and could drive itself in some terrains.

Elbit's model used its Iron Vision helmets, which works with cameras and sensors on the outside of the tank to give the soldiers inside a 360-degree field of vision. It is a variation on a similar helmet that the company created for the [[F 35|F-35 fighter jet]]. A number of other autonomous and AI systems also assist the soldiers inside in identifying targets and general decision-making.

Rafael's prototype used a transparent cockpit design that also gave the two soldiers inside a 360-degree field of view. Its augmented reality systems allowed the crew members to quickly see targets, friendly forces and important locations. The Rafael tank also had “an autonomous mission support system, for autonomous mission planning, driving, and simultaneous operation of all vehicle weapon systems, all based on combat artificial intelligence capabilities”.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gross |first=Judah Ari |title=Defense Ministry unveils 3 prototypes for Israel's tanks of the future |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/defense-ministry-unveils-3-prototypes-for-israels-tanks-of-the-future/ |access-date=2023-10-10 |website=www.timesofisrael.com |language=en-US}}</ref>

In 2021, Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) was selected to lead the next phase of Carmel's development.<ref>{{cite news |last=Saballa |first=Joe |date=12 October 2021 |title=IAI to Lead Development of Israel's Future Carmel Tank |website=The Defense Post |url=https://www.thedefensepost.com/2021/10/12/iai-israel-carmel-tank/}}</ref>