Merkava Mk4

The current-generation Israeli main battle tank, built around a distinctive front-mounted engine that shields the crew and allows a rear troop/casualty hatch. It has been continuously upgraded with the Trophy active protection system after extensive combat use in Lebanon and Gaza.

Max speed

64 km/h

Range

500 km

Combat weight

65,000 kg

💲 Approximate acquisition unit cost

Full specifications

Performance

Speed, range, altitude and engagement capability.

Max speed Maximum level speed. For aircraft this is at optimal altitude; for ground vehicles, top road speed. Higher means faster response and better kinematic performance.: 64 km/h

18th pct in class
Range Maximum distance: ferry range for aircraft, operational range for vehicles, maximum engagement distance for missiles. Higher means more standoff or persistence.: 500 km

55th pct in class
Power-to-weight Engine power per tonne of vehicle weight. Higher means better acceleration and cross-country mobility.: 24 hp/t

36th pct in class

Firepower

Armament, payload and guidance.

Main armament Primary weapon: main gun, cannon or missile type.: 120 mm MG253 smoothbore
Secondary armament Additional weapons: coaxial MG, remote weapon station, gun pods.: 12.7 mm + 2x 7.62 mm machine guns, 60 mm internal mortar
Caliber Bore diameter of the main gun or rifle. Larger throws heavier projectiles; not simply better — ammunition commonality matters.: 120 mm
Ammunition Rounds carried (main gun) or standard magazine capacity.: 48

91th pct in class

Protection

Armor, countermeasures and survivability.

Armor Armor technology: composite, modular, ERA-fitted, uranium-ceramic. Exact compositions are classified.: Modular composite armor with front-mounted engine block
Active protection Hard-kill APS (Trophy, Arena, Afganit) intercepts incoming projectiles before impact.: Trophy
Reactive armor Explosive reactive armor (ERA) blocks that disrupt shaped-charge jets.: Yes
Countermeasures Self-protection: chaff, flares, DIRCM, towed decoys, smoke dischargers, jammers.: Trophy APS, smoke grenade launchers
NBC protection Sealed crew compartment with overpressure filtration for nuclear/biological/chemical environments.: Yes

Physical

Dimensions, weight and crew.

Length Overall length including gun/probe where applicable.: 9.04 m
Width Overall width — matters for rail/road transport of vehicles.: 3.72 m
Height Overall height. Lower profile is harder to spot and hit for ground vehicles.: 2.66 m
Combat weight Fully loaded weight. Lighter eases transport and bridging limits; heavier often means more armor.: 65,000 kg
Crew Personnel required to operate. Fewer reduces exposure; autoloaders trade a loader for mechanical complexity.: 4

Propulsion

Engine, power and fuel.

Engine Powerplant model and type.: GD883 turbocharged diesel
Engine power Engine output power. Higher moves more weight faster.: 1,500 hp

27th pct in class
Fuel capacity Internal fuel volume.: 1,400 L
Propulsion type Turbofan, turboshaft, diesel, gas turbine, solid-fuel rocket, ramjet…: Diesel

Sensors & avionics

Radar, sensor suite and datalinks.

Sensors IRST, EO/IR turrets, laser designators, sniper pods, thermal sights.: Knight Mk4 fire control, panoramic commander sight
Thermal imaging Thermal sights for night and obscured-visibility operations.: Yes

Program

Cost, production scale and operators.

Unit cost Approximate flyaway/unit cost where public. Defense pricing varies hugely by contract, offsets and configuration. Lower is cheaper.: $6,000,000

75th pct in class
Units built Total production run. Higher means proven manufacturing, mature logistics and spares availability.: 620

73th pct in class
Operator countries Number of countries operating the system. More operators means broader support ecosystem.: 1

0th pct in class

Specifications compiled from public MANTAK (Merkava Tank Office) and reference sources ↗. Published defense figures are approximations — treat comparisons as directional. Last verified 2026-07-01.

Frequently asked questions

What is the top speed of the MANTAK (Merkava Tank Office) Merkava Mk4? +

The MANTAK (Merkava Tank Office) Merkava Mk4 has a maximum speed of 64 km/h.

What is the range of the MANTAK (Merkava Tank Office) Merkava Mk4? +

The MANTAK (Merkava Tank Office) Merkava Mk4 has a maximum range of 500 km.

How much does the MANTAK (Merkava Tank Office) Merkava Mk4 weigh? +

The MANTAK (Merkava Tank Office) Merkava Mk4 has a combat weight of 65,000 kg.

How many crew does the MANTAK (Merkava Tank Office) Merkava Mk4 require? +

The MANTAK (Merkava Tank Office) Merkava Mk4 requires a crew of 4.

What is the main armament of the MANTAK (Merkava Tank Office) Merkava Mk4? +

The MANTAK (Merkava Tank Office) Merkava Mk4's primary weapon is the 120 mm MG253 smoothbore.

What engine does the MANTAK (Merkava Tank Office) Merkava Mk4 use? +

The MANTAK (Merkava Tank Office) Merkava Mk4 is powered by the GD883 turbocharged diesel.

What is the MANTAK (Merkava Tank Office) Merkava Mk4 used for? +

The MANTAK (Merkava Tank Office) Merkava Mk4 is a main battle tank typically used for anti armor, infantry combat.

How many countries operate the MANTAK (Merkava Tank Office) Merkava Mk4? +

The MANTAK (Merkava Tank Office) Merkava Mk4 is operated by 1 countries.

How much does the MANTAK (Merkava Tank Office) Merkava Mk4 cost? +

The MANTAK (Merkava Tank Office) Merkava Mk4 has an approximate unit cost of 6,000,000 USD. Defense pricing varies by contract, offsets and configuration — treat this as directional.