|
|
|
|
IMI 120 mm gun
|
| |
|
| |
The IMI 120 mm gun is a smoothbore tank gun designed and produced by the Israeli Military Industries company, based on German Rheinmetall 120 mm gun. It is widely confused as a licensed production of the Rheinmetall L44 tank gun, however it was originally developed by Israeli Military Industries through 1983-1988, to meet the requirements of the Israel Defense Forces' Merkava Mark III main battle tank. First revealed in 1989 when it was shown to be the main armament of the Merkava Mark III.

Discussion
Ask a question about 'IMI 120 mm gun'
Start a new discussion about 'IMI 120 mm gun'
Answer questions from other users
|
Encyclopedia
The IMI 120 mm gun is a smoothbore tank gun designed and produced by the Israeli Military Industries company, based on German Rheinmetall 120 mm gun. It is widely confused as a licensed production of the Rheinmetall L44 tank gun, however it was originally developed by Israeli Military Industries through 1983-1988, to meet the requirements of the Israel Defense Forces' Merkava Mark III main battle tank. First revealed in 1989 when it was shown to be the main armament of the Merkava Mark III. In 1998 the Israel Defense Prize awarded to Israeli Military Industries for this development, which allows Israel to produce tank guns independently.
Design This tank gun is very similar to the Rheinmetall L44 versions installed on German Leopard 2, United States' M1 Abrams, South Korean K1A1 and Japanese Type 90 main battle tanks. Though, it has a different recoil system, consisting of an optimized concentric retarder and pneumatic recuperator, and more compact overall dimensions, not exceeding those of the existing 105 mm Royal Ordnance M68 105 mm rifled gun of the Merkava Mark I and II, and M60 Patton.
Versions There are two versions of IMI 120 mm gun: MG251 and MG253, the first of which fitted with a thermal sleeve, developed by Vishay, provided with a fume extractor which can be removed for maintenance without disturbing the actual sleeve, while the second also features a new compressed gas recoil system and a thermal sleeve developed by Vidco Industries. Both versions fire a family of ammunition developed by IMI but can also fire French, German or US proper 120 mm NATO ammunition if required, may also fire LAHAT ATGM.
Operators
External links
|
| |
|
|