The pic above is of the NAMER Heavy APC.
I've been doing my best to keep up with things in the Middle East. In particular the coming ground war between the Israeli's and Palestinians. I've seen Merkava 3 & 4's. I've seen heavily upgraded M-113's. I've seen
Achzarit's modified T-55 APC's, but I haven't seen the NAMER. It could be that I've simply missed it and they're on the line like everything else waiting for orders to cross the line. Or it could be that the Israeli's don't think that this is the vehicle to take into a heavily defended urban area to hook and jab with the enemy.
If the Israeli's decided not to employ the Namer in this conflict then it tells us more than any Think Tank about the wisdom of heavy APC's.
I could be wrong. It might be on the line. But if it isn't then US Army procurement efforts need to be looked at in a different light.
Easy answer, all the Namer's currently in service are assigned to the Golani Brigade which is stationed on the Northern Border. In the last Gaza conflict that unit was moved down to take part in the operation but now with Syria is shambles the security situation up north may be too volatile to bring them down. So no Namer in Gaza for now..
ReplyDeleteAchzarit is also a heavy APC. Just not as heavy.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/picturegalleries/worldnews/9683800/Israel-and-Gaza-conflict-protests-as-Israeli-ground-troops-mass-on-border.html
ReplyDeleteThose aren't Namers (six road wheels). They are Achzarits.
ReplyDeleteAs of June, the IDF hadn't selected an active-defense system for the Namer.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.jpost.com/Defense/Article.aspx?id=275362
If that is the case, then perhaps they are not quite ready for prime-time.
Plus, they probably haven't been fielded in great numbers yet. General Dynamics has had just two years to gear up full-scale Namer production.
Or Rohan has it right and they are hanging out in the North waiting for just-in-case scenarios.
My understanding is that the true production version of the Namer are still coming off the General Dynamics production line in Lima, OH. So I'm guessing the Israelis are husbanding their heavy APCs until they can equip a few more brigades.
ReplyDeleteI didn't think of it, but perhaps the IDF has selected an active-defense system or systems, but are keeping it under wraps so as not to tip off Hezbollah/Iran.
ReplyDeleteWhile I would love to see the Namers in action, I understand if they keep them out of sight OR only available for if things escalate.
well i did a little google-fu and they're talking about adding active defense...but we have also been told that they're in service. i find it interesting that some are claiming that the heaviest APC in service anywhere in the world is being kept on the sidelines because it doesn't have active protection yet we see the much criticized M-113 being pressed into frontline service without that same protection!
ReplyDeletei'm still looking but their has to be more to this story.
Namers were used the last time they went into Gaza, so I seriously doubt their absence has anything to do with a lack of an APS.
ReplyDeleteRohan's assertion seems more likely. Either that, or they are there, and we just haven't seen them.