RAMAT HASHARON, Israel, Aug. 1 (UPI) -- The Israeli military has ordered new 120mm tank rounds that were designed for use by NATO militaries.
Israel Military Industries Ltd., which didn't disclose the monetary value of the order, said the M339 tank rounds will be used by the Israeli military's Merkava Mk3 and Merkava Mk4 Main Battle Tanks.
Equipped with an Insensitive Munition warhead, the round provides an easy-to-operate solution for fighting in urban scenarios.
M339 uses an electronic fusing system and has three modes of operation: point detonation delay, point detonation/super quick and air burst.
An inductive setter is used to set the mode of operation.
In PDD mode the M339 is designed to penetrate targets, such as double reinforced concrete walls or light armored vehicles, and explode inside, releasing thousands of controlled fragments.
In PD (Super Quick) mode the tank round breaches a hole in double reinforced concrete walls. Two rounds will create a passageway allowing infantry soldiers to pass through the wall.
The Air Burst mode is used for effectively engaging anti-tank or Infantry squads, operating in the open or hiding behind defilade or walls.
M339 is compatible with NATO 120mm smoothbore tank guns and meets STANAG 4385 and 4493 requirements, AIA said.
