The Israeli military is moving forward with development of the Eitan 8×8 wheeled armored personnel carrier (APC). According to iHLS, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) have recently conducted a series of tests on rough terrain using the Eitan APC.
Tests occurred at training grounds in southern Israel as well as in the Golan Heights.
Eitan, first revealed in August 2016, is designed for combat and troop transportation duties in harsh territory. It will feature an active defense system similar to Namer APCs and Merkava IV tanks, as well as other protection systems.
Along with the Namer, Eitan will replace the IDF’s aging M113 APCs.
Israel expects the Eitan to have a low manufacturing and maintenance cost, which will allow procurement of a large number of vehicles.
Eitan was developed by IAI, IMI, and Rafael. It has a crew of three and can carry nine more troops. On ideal road conditions, the vehicle can travel 90km per hour. Eitan weighs up to 35 tons and includes a 750hp diesel engine.
Military markets analyst, covering Eurasia, Middle East, and Africa.
