Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has revealed that Israel will be developing an Artificial Intelligence-equipped
tank.
The Barak, an advanced version of the current Merkava Mark IV tank, is being developed and
is scheduled for operational deployment by 2021.
According to an Israel Defense Forces announcement, “The Merkava Mark IV Barak will be the first
tank to have a smart mission computer that will manage the tanks’ tasks.
This advanced artificial intelligence will reduce the team member's workload and help
them more accurately locate and strike targets.”
In this video, Defense Updates analyzes Israel’s Merkava Mark IV Barak AI enabled tank.
Let's get started.
The Merkava meaning “chariot” is the main battle tank used by the Israel Defense Forces
and is considered to be one of the best in the world.
The tank was deployed for official service in 1978.
The tank has a crew of 4, commander, driver, gunner, and loader.
The 65-ton Merkava was built as per Israel’s needs, especially its urge to protect the
crew from harm.
The tank has a unique design, the engine is in the front for additional protection for
the crew and the rear has an armored compartment.
When ammunition is unloaded, the compartment can carry up to 8 infantry or 3 stretchers.
The tank has mainly 4 variant till now, Merkava Mark IV being the latest.
Israel has 250 Mark I, 580 Mark II, 780 Mark III and 360 Mark IV in service with another
300 units in the pipeline.
The Merkava 4 uses a 120-millimeter cannon as its main gun.
During Operation Protective Edge in 2014, Israeli troops found themselves in intense
street fighting against Hamas fighters.
The battle scene was complex due to narrow space and enemy combatants taking cover between
civilians.
Tanks, in general, are designed to take on other tanks, or provide support to infantry,
on a regular battlefield.
But Barak is being designed to meet challenges for urban warfare, especially against insurgents
such as Hamas.
Lieutenant Colonel Schachar (full name withheld), head of the Weapons Branch in the Armored
Corps, told Jane’s on 25 July that the new tank will enhance the “user experience”
of the 4 person crew.
He said, “The mission computer will be like a fifth crew member, which will improve processes
in the cabin.
It’s designed to understand the situation and activate multiple touchscreens accordingly.
This will form an inseparable part of the ability to conduct combat operations in closed,
urban spaces.”
The exact capabilities of the Barak’s AI aren’t made public.
The artificial intelligence could potentially help with many tasks such as identifying the
source of hostile fire or distinguishing enemy combatants from civilians.
Other than the AI system, all the major subsystems will see upgrades.
This includes updates in sensors, networking with other tanks, and a 360-degree Virtual
Reality system embedded into the tank, which the crew can access via special helmets named
Iron View.
The Virtual Reality system would enable the crew to assess the battleground without having
to pop their hatches which can make them targets for snipers.
It also means that the crew can get virtual training and mission rehearsal inside their
tank rather than having to travel to a training center which has the simulator.
The Barak will have systems to warn the driver of obstacles, similar to those found on luxury
automobiles.
The tank will also have an active protection system which will probably the Trophy anti-missile
system.
The trophy is capable of intercepting incoming missiles and rockets with a shotgun-like blast.
So, it essentially supplements the armor of the tank.
It will have improved endurance, that will enable it to carry out missions that are 30
percent longer than current operations.