Following is an article from Jane’s Defense Weekly dating back to 2005, providing a good look at the IDF’s armored personnel carrier that performed admirably in Operation Cast Lead.

The IDF Ground Forces Command displayed for the first time the prototype of its Merkava-based Nemer (Tiger) heavy infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) at the Low Intensity Conflict 2005 exhibition held in Tel Aviv from 7-10 March.

An official from the IDF’s Merkava Tank Directorate told Jane’s Defense Weekly that while the Nemer follows the pattern associated with the IDF’s development of a heavy armored personnel carrier (APC), it is configured as an IFV.

Based on the chassis of an older IDF Merkava Mk 1 main battle tank, the Nemer IFV is configured for 11 personnel: commander, driver, gunner and eight troops. However, the official noted that the Nemer is equipped with a stretcher-loading facility, allowing it to comfortably evacuate one casualty in addition to the configured troop load.

“The next generation of APC will be wheeled, not tracked – this is my vision. A wheeled solution will make the infantry more versatile and allow us to multiply our maneuver capability to meet specific threats, “IDF Chief of the Ground Forces Major General Yiftach Ron-Tal told JDW. “However, with the current and near future threats from low-intensity conflict – particularly with regard to the nature of the threat – we encounter in built-up areas, for example in the Gaza Strip, from anti-tank threats, we decided that we needed to move to the next generation of heavy armored infantry fighting platform,” Gen Ron-Tal said.

Nemer is an all-IDF-developed capability, designed and built by the Merkava Tank Directorate. However, Gen Ron-Tal noted: “This is a very expensive solution, and so two major decisions were made: firstly, that we would utilize the older Merkava Mk 1 platform, which is now some 20 years old; secondly, we don’t have the budget to procure the platform, and so we will have to use the US Foreign Military Funding budget. Therefore, we have to find a way to produce the Nemer, at least in part, in the US; this might mean sending the hulls over for upgrade.”

As part of the new configuration, the Merkava Tank Directorate has removed the turret and top of the Mk 1 platform, welded a new armored upper structure to the hull, and provided a new up-armored top rear door/ramp. The hatch for the driver station has been removed and that area provided with additional armor. “I believe that we have, with the Nemer, produced the best protected IFV in the world. In the future, it will be equipped with the Trophy Active Protection System to reduce the weight,” Gen Ron-Tal said.

The Nemer features an all-round special armor package, with additional armor on the front and roof of the vehicle, the official said. The underneath of the IFV is also equipped with a “classified armor system” to protect against belly charges and specially designed collapsible seating configured for additional protection against such a threat. The only hatch in the roof is above the commander’s seat on the left-hand side of the vehicle, enabling access to a 7.62 mm manually operated machine gun.

The prototype displayed at the show featured a Rafael Armament Development Authority 12.7 mm ‘Katlanit’ remotely controlled weapon station (RCWS) on the front right of the vehicle, although the official told JDW that the vehicle “can accommodate three interchangeable weapon systems: the M240 7.62 mm machine gun, the M2 12.7 mm heavy machine gun and the MK 19 40 mm automatic grenade launcher”. The rear section of the vehicle roof can be configured to mount an additional unmanned 30 mm RCWS. A sniper port is also located in the rear door/entry ramp of the vehicle.

Equipped with the Merkava Mk 4 battle-management and fire-control systems, Nemer has an (uncooled thermal) video and coupled-charge device for a day/night observation capability. Four cameras (three to the front, one to the rear) enable all-round closed-hatch vision during combat.

Following lessons learned during recent IDF operations in the Gaza Strip, in which troops remained inside IFVs sometimes for up to 24 hours, the Nemer includes a lavatory facility. The Nemer is powered by the Merkava Mk 1 900 hp AVDS diesel power plant.

The prototype on display “is a technology demonstrator with real components that has been operationally evaluated by the IDF’s 84 Brigade, and will be deployed to the Gaza area after the exhibition”, the official told JDW.

(‘Jane’s World Armies’)