First I'd like to thank IsraelDefense.co.il for covering a great deal of information given during the 2nd International Ground Warfare Conference held in Latrun this year, and a thank-you to Sirpad from Fresh.co.il forum who also attended the conference and obtained further images of the Carmel technology demonstrator vehicle that were not posted on the IsraelDefense.co.il website.
Okay so let's get down to it, shall we?
The concept art surprised pretty much everyone, including me. But not because of its odd shape, but because it's sloppy.
There is no rear door, so how could the crew enter or exit? There is no V-shaped hull, no APS, and no sights for either the RCWS or panoramic sights.
Not to mention the odd shape of the hull makes little sense. It would be reasonable to provide a higher level of protection to the crew capsule (center portion of the vehicle), but the side armor modules are each shaped differently, which means more different components for the sake of aesthetics which the design team of the concept art is responsible for.
The periscopes take up an immense amount of space and therefore pose a weakspot right above the crew compartment. This is sub-optimal because in an urban environment, top protection is vital. However in one of the pictures it is removed.
For the above-mentioned reasons, I am confident that this is NOT going to be the way the Carmel looks like in the final version. But here are a few details that the concept art does give us:
1)The family of vehicles based on Carmel will replace the Namer which currently serves as an APC and CEV, and will soon be converted to IFV as well. There is no mentioning of a troop carrying capacity for the Carmel yet, but because we see an HMG armed variant, it's likely it will be an APC.
It might be stretched, as opposed to the pictures.
2)Interestingly no MBT variant is shown, which is odd because if it will replace the Namer APC and IFV and Nemmera CEV, it will make the Merkava 4 Barak MBT the only one in the Merkava family without a proper long term replacement plan.
Again, the Carmel will be a highly advanced vehicle with a multitude of advanced capabilities and innovative technologies, but the concept art gives us more doubts than answers.
General Characteristics
-Halving the weight relative to current vehicles. The goal is 35 tons without compromising protection. A lighter platform will better navigate inside tight urban areas.
-Automatic identification, jamming, and destruction capability for every direct threat on a tank.
-Autonomous engagement of enemy targets as immediate retaliation to enemy fire.
-Autonomous engagement of enemy targets as immediate retaliation to enemy fire.
-Increased protection, and significant reduction in the vehicle's signature (visual, thermal, noise etc).
-Multi-layered APS for both point defense and area defense of surrounding assets.
-Multi-layered APS for both point defense and area defense of surrounding assets.
-Real time communication between all surrounding vehicles and units, and ad-hoc communication network for sharing targets.
-More advanced weaponry and ammunition than those currently existing. Hinted non-conventional guns.
-Advanced materials and transparent armor.
-Hybrid drive, smart energy management systems.
-Universal platform.
-Cyber protection for the communication and computerized systems inside the vehicle.
-Protected crew capsule with 3-person capacity.
-2 man crew. Third being a platoon or company commander with equipment to control unmanned assets.
-Dual controls for all crewmen to allow replacement of a crewman without leaving one's station.
-Medium caliber armament of unspecified type. Likely above 30mm and around 40-60mm.
Concept Art
 |
| Seen with wide FOV periscopes. |
 |
| Same version but periscopes are absent. |
 |
| No rear door. |
 |
| Family includes APC(?), Recon, CEV, and VSHORAD as well as the standard version. |
Okay so let's get down to it, shall we?
The concept art surprised pretty much everyone, including me. But not because of its odd shape, but because it's sloppy.
There is no rear door, so how could the crew enter or exit? There is no V-shaped hull, no APS, and no sights for either the RCWS or panoramic sights.
Not to mention the odd shape of the hull makes little sense. It would be reasonable to provide a higher level of protection to the crew capsule (center portion of the vehicle), but the side armor modules are each shaped differently, which means more different components for the sake of aesthetics which the design team of the concept art is responsible for.
The periscopes take up an immense amount of space and therefore pose a weakspot right above the crew compartment. This is sub-optimal because in an urban environment, top protection is vital. However in one of the pictures it is removed.
For the above-mentioned reasons, I am confident that this is NOT going to be the way the Carmel looks like in the final version. But here are a few details that the concept art does give us:
1)The family of vehicles based on Carmel will replace the Namer which currently serves as an APC and CEV, and will soon be converted to IFV as well. There is no mentioning of a troop carrying capacity for the Carmel yet, but because we see an HMG armed variant, it's likely it will be an APC.
It might be stretched, as opposed to the pictures.
2)Interestingly no MBT variant is shown, which is odd because if it will replace the Namer APC and IFV and Nemmera CEV, it will make the Merkava 4 Barak MBT the only one in the Merkava family without a proper long term replacement plan.
Again, the Carmel will be a highly advanced vehicle with a multitude of advanced capabilities and innovative technologies, but the concept art gives us more doubts than answers.
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