Since 2017, Israeli defense enterprises and the military department have regularly reported on the progress of the promising Carmel project. It is part of the larger RACIA program and is intended to test fundamentally new ideas and solutions in the field of ground armored vehicles. Until recently, only graphics appeared at exhibitions, but now three prototypes of new technology were shown to the public at once.
Big plans
For the first time, the project "Carmel" (short for "promising armored vehicle of the ground forces") was told in May 2017. Then the IDF representatives revealed their plans, and also pointed out the main requirements for the future vehicle. The main goal of the project is to create a promising armored combat vehicle with a number of fundamentally new functions and capabilities. It was assumed that the maximum use of automated systems and the introduction of new solutions.
The result of the project should be a light or medium-weight armored vehicle suitable for use as a universal platform. At the same time, the main goal so far is to create a combat version of such a vehicle with missile and cannon armament.
The crew was proposed to be reduced to two people with the possibility of introducing a third. The latter can be a unit commander or an operator of additional equipment. The customer requires to maximize the situational awareness of the crew using all available means. It was also necessary to reduce the burden on people by automatically solving most of the tasks, incl. driving and aiming weapons.
The RAKIA and Carmel projects envisage the operation of different enterprises for several years. At the first stage of the program, it was planned to work out the general appearance of the equipment and its capabilities, as well as issues related to the instrumentation of the equipment. At the same time, the creation of a tracked chassis of a new look is attributed to a further period.
Participants and prototypes
All major enterprises of the Israeli defense industry, as well as several organizations from the Ministry of Defense, were attracted to participate in the new projects. In recent years, they have used RAKIA / Carmel to study, and now they were able to present prototypes.
In early August, the first open demonstration of three prototypes of the Carmel machine from different developers took place. Prototypes were built by IAI, Rafael and Elbit. The event was attended by representatives of the IDF and foreign military forces. It is expected that this will lead to the start of mutually beneficial international cooperation.
The creation of the chassis for the Carmel product has not yet been completed, which is why the current prototypes are based on the modified M113 armored personnel carrier. All of them received new internal equipment of the hull, as well as combat modules with the necessary systems.
The prototype from the Elbit company is based on a serial chassis that has undergone major revision. The machine of a characteristic appearance carries a lot of external devices, and is also equipped with a new remotely controlled combat module. Its armament consists of a 30-mm automatic cannon and a machine gun. The fire control system is integrated with communications and includes automated components.
The task of increasing situational awareness is solved with the help of modern components. A retractable column with observation equipment is placed on the tower. The video signal and various additional information are displayed on the screens of IronVision helmets. Such equipment allows observation in all directions "through the armor". Measures have been taken to exchange data between means of observation, communication and fire control.
The Rafael project uses a turret with cannon-machine gun armament and Spike missiles. Also, the combat module is equipped with advanced surveillance equipment. Systems for a similar purpose are installed on the body. The control department houses a panoramic assembly of several monitors. LCD-based instrument panels are also provided. Control is carried out using handles, keypads and touch screens.
The manned compartment of the prototype from the IAI is equipped in a similar way. However, it has some differences in configuration and ergonomics. The most noticeable is the main governing body. The crew is invited to work with a gamepad-type remote control. For data output, a common panoramic screen and a couple of personal ones are used at each workplace.
With all this, the machine from IAI differs from other models in the absence of weapons. Various surveillance equipment and other equipment were placed on the roof of the base armored personnel carrier, but there was no place for the combat module.
It is argued that by the time of the first public demonstration, three versions of the Carmel car had passed part of the tests. For a month, this technique worked at the test site and showed the capabilities of its equipment. In the near future, new tests of one kind or another will be carried out.
Near future
Over the next three months, the IDF and project developers will conduct new tests of the presented armored vehicles. Then the specialists of the Ministry of Defense will analyze the collected data and establish further ways for the development of the Carmel project. First of all, the fate of the project itself will be determined. In addition, it is necessary to work out the prospects of its individual components in the context of the development of other military equipment.
The military needs to choose the final look of the future combat vehicle and draw up requirements for it. The final version of the Carmel project may be based on one of the current developments. It is also possible to formulate new requirements, proposing a combination of different features of the three existing machines. Which of the scenarios will be accepted for implementation is unknown.
In the context of the RAKIA and Carmel projects, a number of new technologies are being developed. Various enterprises are working on a hybrid power plant, a new active protection complex, advanced electronic systems, etc. Some of these developments were used in the construction of test samples, while others are not yet ready for implementation.
The IDF plans to use new technologies not only in the Carmel project. It is envisaged to use them in the modernization of various equipment in service. So, until 2022, an updated version of the Merkava-4 tank will go into production, in which some of the technologies shown will be used. However, it has not yet been specified which developments will improve this car.
New family
The full result of the Carmel project is expected only in the distant future. So far, it is argued that such armored vehicles will enter service no earlier than seven years later. Thus, combat units of the IDF will receive noticeable quantities of new equipment only by the end of the next decade. In addition, by this time they will be able to master the modernized armored vehicles of existing types.
From the very beginning, the goal of the Carmel project was called the creation of a multi-purpose unified platform suitable for the construction of equipment of different classes. At the same time, current prototypes cannot fully demonstrate such a project's potential.
The family may include a multipurpose vehicle with missile and cannon armament, an infantry fighting vehicle with an airborne compartment, carriers of various weapons and special equipment, engineering equipment, etc. All of them will be built on the basis of a single chassis, the development of which has not yet been completed. In addition, they will receive part of the main systems currently being tested on prototypes.
It is expected that the unification of equipment for chassis and electronic systems will provide a number of obvious advantages. The widespread use of advanced electronics will reduce the workload on the crew while increasing efficiency, and will also simplify interaction with other vehicles and command. The Carmel family as a whole will have to become a versatile and convenient tool for solving a wide range of combat and auxiliary missions.
However, such results are still in the distant future. At the moment, only individual components and systems that need testing and fine-tuning are ready. It will take several years to perfect them, further develop the finished project and all subsequent work on the new machine. It will be possible to speak with confidence about the results of the current RAKIA / Carmel program only by the end of the twenties.
