(Fox News) Israel unveiled the “Barak” tank as its newest artificial intelligence (AI)-powered military advancement, promising a “new era” in combat capabilities.
“The Barak tank is very innovative – it takes our maneuvering capabilities to another level, and it is a clear expression of our technological capabilities,” Israeli Minister of Defense (IMOD) Yoav Gallant said of the tank, whose name translates to “lightning.”
“I would like to express my appreciation to the engineers of the Tank and APC Administration, the Israeli Ground Forces and all those involved in the professional process,” he added.
The fifth-generation Barak tank introduces a 360-degree awareness capability, giving a total vision of the battlefield. In a video that features animated segments to demonstrate the tank’s potential, an IDF operator is able to identify targets both in front and behind his tank thanks to a specially designed helmet that helps him filter battlefield data.
The tank also seamlessly communicates the information to another nearby tank, which can immediately respond to the data and identify the target instead.
The first Barak tanks are delivered to the IDF for testing and deployment into the 401st Armored Brigade. (Israeli Ministry of Defense)
Tank crews will have touchscreen devices to help them make use of “unique” applications with which operators will have greater familiarity as time goes on.
The Barak also possesses “advanced observation and night capabilities” that allow tank crews to engage in close-range combat, thanks to the improved and up-to-date intelligence collection and sharing made possible by a new wide and reliable “sensor infrastructure” with the ability to more precisely analyze terrain.
Israeli military commanders stressed the continued value of tanks in the military, with IMOD Director-General (reserves) Eyal Zamir calling tanks “the backbone of the Armored Corps and on-ground fighting.”
A computer animated simulation of the “total vision” the Barak can achieve on the battlefield. (Israeli Ministry of Defense)
However, he noted that the Barak created a “new era” for combat and a “breakthrough on the modern battlefield.”
Brig. Gen. Oren Giber, the head of the Defense Merkava and Armored Vehicles Directorate, said the Barak sets a “very high standard of technological excellence” for the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) thanks to “a unique weapon system,” the “high-quality” technology added to it, and “built-in flexibility.”
The tank’s cost remains undisclosed, but Defense News noted officials equated it to costing roughly as much as the Merkava 4M, which costs around $3.5 million despite the technological advancements and additions to the Barak.
