The leaks have nothing for Israel, so IMO its either going to be a BOMB update for Israel, or a “kill me, i’d like to stop caring so much about a video game” type update for Israel
And we all know from experience what type it’ll be :)
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Man, I’m still waiting for the Tiran 5, but the Merkavas need an armor upgrade anyway, especially the later models with composite armor, like the Merkava 2D, 3D and all 4s.
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If they don’t get an Spaa soon I’m gonna freak, at very MINIMUM give the chap its smokeless motors and uncaged seeker that it HISTORICALLY had. It’s basically unplayable as is.
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Even better, we got nothing while uk has another spaa pair with strella and osa lmaoo
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Could swear the Namers are better Anti-air, especially vs Helis and low flying jets
They definitely are lol, just shot down an SU34 yesterday with the cannon and I love the heli rushers.
The devs said that there are some vehicles that were more vehicles coming to the dev sever so we might see something for israel
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I wish
Me to
I highly doubt they are making anything for israel ground this update. they literally only are changing the name of the main gun on the merkava mk4’s. its fucking tragic they would do that and not remodel merkava armor
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not even got lahat atgm
True, give the merkava actual armor and not armor less effective then a piece of paper. please.
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the armor is less effective than russian relikt era which is an absolute joke
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Thats not a good argument though. Pound for pound nothing beats the efficiency of ERA.
I´m in favor of this but it would be extremely hard to model fairly.
In the specific case of Merk 4, durability vs APFSDS wouldn´t be as limited as in vs HEAT since the former don´t cause the explosive reactive elements (SLERA/NxRA) within the armor modules to detonate.
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It would be better if he could have AHEAD ammunition.
still waiting gaijin
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hey gaijin, while your fixing aps hopefully, you should fix the armor while you’re at it. thanks
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The Merkava Mk.4 in War Thunder: A Call for Accurate Armor Modeling
After extensive gameplay with the Israeli ground forces and particularly the Merkava series, it’s clear that the Merkava Mk.4 is currently one of the least accurately represented MBTs in top-tier War Thunder. This is not a matter of personal preference — the discrepancy between the tank’s real-world specifications and its in-game performance is significant.
Real-World Protection Capabilities
The Merkava Mk.4 was designed with a clear focus on crew survivability and modular protection. Its armor design reflects years of operational experience and combat lessons, incorporating several key elements:
- Modular Composite Armor: The Mk.4 uses modular composite armor panels, allowing quick replacement and repairs on the battlefield. This armor is designed to withstand both kinetic and chemical energy threats.
- Internal Protective Layout: Unlike most tanks, the Merkava places the engine in the front, acting as an additional layer of protection. The ammunition is stored in isolated, fireproof compartments, further enhancing survivability.
- Sloped and Reinforced Turret Armor: The turret is not only heavily armored but also angled to deflect incoming rounds, including top-attack threats.
- Crew-Centric Design: Approximately 70% of the tank’s total system weight is focused on protecting the crew — a stark contrast to the global average of ~50%.
These features are well-documented in both official defense sources and open publications.
Sources:
- Wikipedia – Merkava Mark 4 (Hebrew)
- Israel Defense – Merkava 4 Overview
- Army Recognition – Merkava Mk.4 MBT
Current In-Game Model and Issues
In War Thunder, the Merkava Mk.4 is modeled with significantly lower protection than what is supported by real-world data:
- The kinetic protection values are modeled with an internal armor multiplier of 0.10x, which is lower than even basic rubber-fabric screens used as add-on armor in some vehicles.
- Cold War-era APFSDS rounds like DM23 or 3BM22 can penetrate the upper front plate (UFP) and even the turret with relative ease — this is inconsistent with documented protection values of the actual tank.
- The rear door of the tank is modeled at 30mm of armor, although reference photos and defense reports indicate that it is significantly thicker and reinforced.
- The game currently does not model SLERA (Self Limiting Explosive Reactive Armor) modules, which are part of the Mk.4’s protection system.
The Balance vs. Accuracy Debate
While game balance is important, accuracy should be the foundation. The Merkava should not be intentionally weakened to the point where it becomes non-competitive at 11.3–11.7 BR. A tank from the early 1970s should not be able to consistently penetrate the frontal arc of a modern MBT like the Merkava Mk.4.
An accurate armor model does not imply overpowering the tank — it simply means representing it as it was designed: a well-protected, survivable main battle tank suitable for modern battlefield conditions.
Conclusion
The Merkava Mk.4 is a symbol of Israel’s advanced defense capabilities. Its current state in War Thunder neither reflects its real-world performance nor does it provide players with a fair and immersive gameplay experience. The vehicle deserves to be treated with the same level of detail and respect as other top-tier MBTs in the game.
I urge Gaijin to re-evaluate the Merkava Mk.4’s armor model using verified, publicly available sources and bring its in-game performance closer to reality. This would improve both balance and authenticity across top-tier ground battles.
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Been fighting this battle for years, i gave up already. But yeah they need to revisit the Merkava series.
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