Israel sells more than 200 old tanks: part of them will go to Europe - media
Old Merkava tanks made in Israel will soon be sold to two foreign armies. Some of the armored vehicles will go to Europe.
As informs Censor.NЕТ, this is stated by Israeli publication Ynet, citing sources in the country's Defense Ministry.
According to journalists, the U.S. Department of Defense is expected to soon approve the sale of hundreds of Merkava Mk2 and Mk3 tanks to Israel, which were manufactured in the 1980s and 1990s and are now out of service with the IDF. The Pentagon's approval for the sale is necessary because the armored vehicles contain American technology in the mechanical parts of these tanks, particularly in the engines.
The deal, estimated to be worth tens of millions of dollars, should be finalized in the coming months.
Sources in the Israeli Ministry of Defense said that the possibility of selling the obsolete equipment seemed doubtful at first, but after Russia unleashed a war in Ukraine, European countries felt the need to strengthen security with inexpensive but reliable armored vehicles.
Initial interest in used tanks arose in the middle of last year, and the Defense Ministry, having checked the condition of the old tanks, found them to be in good enough condition to sell.
The newspaper emphasized that this will be the first time Israeli tanks will be sent to Europe.
