This process led to major new variants of the Magach entering into service by the mid-1990s. The IDF decided to borrow from the evolving Merkava project and introduce its new ballistic materials to the Magach upgrades. Lighter, passive materials were required, capable of defeating both HEAT and KE rounds. Despite efforts to improve Blazer, including changes to its configuration and composition, it remained inadequate against KE projectiles.Īdding more RHA would have imposed an unacceptable weight penalty. Against HEAT warheads, they gave a tank the equivalent protection of an additional 10 tonnes of steel. By the 1990s armour-piercing, fin-stabilised, discarding-sabot (APFSDS) KE rounds fired from 120 and 125mm cannon could penetrate 800mm of RHA.īlazer kits weighed between 800 and 1,000kg. By the 1970s a typical KE round could pierce approximately 400mm of RHA. Much of its armour is a great deal thinner. The thickest part of the M60's turret is 254mm of RHA. The turret of a tank is the most likely point to be hit in tank-versus-tank conflict.

Particularly problematical was the inadequate level of ballistic protection. The Magach with Blazer is known as the Magach 6B.īy 1985, despite all the upgrades, the Magach was becoming increasingly outclassed by MBTs appearing in the enemy tank fleets. Major changes included a Teledyne Continental AT)S-1790-2A diesel power pack and Blazer reactive armour. Additional incremental improvements, implemented for all Israeli main battle tanks (MBTs), saw the introduction of the Urdan low-profile commanders' turret, increased external stowage, thermal sleeves for the cannon, and a 60mm mortar and extra machine guns mounted on the roof. Early model machines were up-gunned, with licence-built copies of the British L7 105mm cannon, fitted with American-style, vertical breech mechanisms. The M48s were systematically upgraded after entering IDF service in 1965, making them virtually indistinguishable from the M60s. The Magach is the name given to the M48 and M60 tanks used by the IDF.

Israel main battle tank magach 6b gal