Israel's Shladot company to supply IDF with dozens of David light armored vehicles
The acquisition includes about 70 vehicles worth about $10 million. It provides an interim solution until the issuance of a tender for the supply of urban light armored combat vehicles
Eyal Boguslavsky
| 12/07/2021
Photo: Israel Border Police
The U.S. Department of Defense last week awarded a sole supplier contract worth about $10 million to MDT Armor, an American subsidiary of Israel's Shladot company that has a vehicle production plant in Alabama, for the production and supply of David urban light armored combat vehicles. The statement from the Defense Department did not specify the number of vehicles, but Israel Defense learned that about 65-70 will be delivered. The project is budgeted through the U.S. foreign military sales program.
The Shephard Media website reported that the IDF currently has 370 David vehicles, with the intended end date of service being 2027. The IDF version of the vehicle is based on a Toyota Hilux chassis with a 122-horsepower turbo diesel engine. Much shorter, lighter, and narrower than an up-armored Hummer in order to negotiate narrow urban streets and alleys, the 3.7-ton David can carry four to six soldiers in full battle gear, with headroom and gun ports in all 4 directions. Large rear doors and a tall cabin, meanwhile, allow fast exits, the report said.
About one year ago, Israel Defense published an in-depth review of the Israeli armored vehicle market for the needs of the IDF. The article reviewed the options of the Defense Ministry's Department of Production and Procurement ahead of the publication of a tender for the supply of armored vehicles. They consisted of the David, which has a Toyota Hilux chassis made by Shladot; Plasan's HYRAX, based on a Mercedes C-Wagon chassis; and a number of American vehicles. A final decision has yet to be made, but as mentioned, Shladot has received an order as the sole supplier.
The review from a year ago also stated that another eighty vehicles were in various stages of production for the IDF and would enter service in the near future. However, it was later reported that 88 of those vehicles were transferred to Chad.
The latest agreement provides an interim solution until the Defense Ministry's Department of Production and Procurement, via the Israeli delegation in New York, publishes a tender for the supply of vehicles to the IDF.
The acquisition includes about 70 vehicles worth about $10 million. It provides an interim solution until the issuance of a tender for the supply of urban light armored combat vehicles
Photo: Israel Border Police
The U.S. Department of Defense last week awarded a sole supplier contract worth about $10 million to MDT Armor, an American subsidiary of Israel's Shladot company that has a vehicle production plant in Alabama, for the production and supply of David urban light armored combat vehicles. The statement from the Defense Department did not specify the number of vehicles, but Israel Defense learned that about 65-70 will be delivered. The project is budgeted through the U.S. foreign military sales program.
The Shephard Media website reported that the IDF currently has 370 David vehicles, with the intended end date of service being 2027. The IDF version of the vehicle is based on a Toyota Hilux chassis with a 122-horsepower turbo diesel engine. Much shorter, lighter, and narrower than an up-armored Hummer in order to negotiate narrow urban streets and alleys, the 3.7-ton David can carry four to six soldiers in full battle gear, with headroom and gun ports in all 4 directions. Large rear doors and a tall cabin, meanwhile, allow fast exits, the report said.
About one year ago, Israel Defense published an in-depth review of the Israeli armored vehicle market for the needs of the IDF. The article reviewed the options of the Defense Ministry's Department of Production and Procurement ahead of the publication of a tender for the supply of armored vehicles. They consisted of the David, which has a Toyota Hilux chassis made by Shladot; Plasan's HYRAX, based on a Mercedes C-Wagon chassis; and a number of American vehicles. A final decision has yet to be made, but as mentioned, Shladot has received an order as the sole supplier.
The review from a year ago also stated that another eighty vehicles were in various stages of production for the IDF and would enter service in the near future. However, it was later reported that 88 of those vehicles were transferred to Chad.
The latest agreement provides an interim solution until the Defense Ministry's Department of Production and Procurement, via the Israeli delegation in New York, publishes a tender for the supply of vehicles to the IDF.
