The Namer (Tiger) heavy armored personnel carrier is a mayor element of the IDF modernization plan. The latest design of the Namer is based on the Merkava Mk.4 main battle tank chassis. Currently it is one of the most protected APCs in the world. It provides infantry with the level of protection and mobility matching those of the latest main battle tanks. A first batch of production vehicles was delivered in 2008. Israel plans to acquire few hundreds of these heavy armored personnel carriers. First prototype of this heavy armored personnel carrier, called Namera (Tigeress), was based on out-dated Merkava Mk.1 MBT chassis. It was revealed and fielded in 2005 for trials and evaluation. This variant was offered for export customers, however it received no production orders. Conversion plans were abandoned in favor to newly-built Merkava Mk.4 chassis. Production of new vehicles rather than conversion was considered more practical and cost-effective. This variant was publicly revealed in 2008.
The Namer heavy APC is fitted with modular armor and Trophy active protection system. For the first time active protection system is used as an integral element. Vehicle is also fitted with NBC protection and automatic fire suppression systems. The Namer offers the same protection level as the Merkava Mk.4.
Vehicle is armed with remotely controlled weapon station, fitted with 12.7-mm machine gun, which can be replaced with 40-mm grenade launcher. There is also a manually-operated 7.62-mm machine gun, mounted on top of the roof. Vehicle is fitted with new battlefield management system.
The installment of the cannon will enable the vehicle new abilities, such as breaking through buildings that are used for hiding, and having the ability to aim a shot in a sharp angle. This will enable Infantry Forces to become more independent against their threats, without the help of tanks. The target data will be entered in the cannon automatically, with help of the control and inspection system of the Namer.
Battalion soldiers of the Golani Brigade that are in the midst of finishing their training on the Namer, practice the use of a machine gun. The Ground Forces are considering if they should change the machine gunner in the Namer for a gunner. In order to do that, a series of tests will be conducted which will examine the use of the cannon in the Namer.
The vehicle is capable of carrying up to 12 fighters, amongst them three professionals (the Namer Commander, the driver, and the machine gunner), and nine Infantry fighters. The cannon will be found outside the vehicle, and will not penetrate the inner area of the APC.
“If the cannon will be installed in the Namer, we won’t have to use other vehicles for Infantry,” explains Major Shlomi Ben Lulu, head of the Namer project in the Infantry Corps. “I wouldn’t want the tank to help me against Infantry threats, however tanks will confront tanks, and Infantry will confront Infantry. The cannon will upgrade the Infantry’s abilities.”
The cannon can turn the Namer to a near perfect vehicle, says Major Ben-Lulu. The reversibility, survivability, the speed, and the mobile abilities – are more advanced than those of the IDF Achzarit, and of other Infantry Armored Personnel Carriers used in the IDF. From the instant the Namer will be part of the battle field, the Infantry and Armored Corps will start to be active together, without having the Armored Corps wait for the Infantry Forces during a battle.
The Namer will enable the Infantry Corps to destroy a threat while remaining in the APC, without having the combat soldiers take out their heads from the vehicle. This is with the help of 360 degree cameras, a control and inspection system, and computerized weapon systems. In addition to that, the control and inspection system in the Namer will enable the Division Commander to be in direct contact, and watch the progress of each class in a direct manner.
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