- Side
- Israel
An INSS military study of Operation Protective Edge reported that Hamas failed to damage Merkava tanks and Namer APCs with guided anti-tank missiles during the 2014 Gaza War, placing Namer in IDF armored operations in Gaza.
Armored Vehicles
Namer
Also known as
- Leopard
- Nemera
The Namer is Israel's Merkava Mk 4-based heavy APC/IFV, built to move infantry under tank-level protection with a front-engine layout and rear troop exit. IDF, defense-reference, and conflict-study sources describe a three-person crew, Trophy active protection, turreted IFV development, and documented Gaza deployment in the 2014 Gaza War and the 2023 Israel-Hamas War.
Role in Conflicts
- Side
- Israel
AP reported IDF Namer APCs actively deployed in Gaza during the 2023 Israel-Hamas War.
Role detailsProfile / Specs
Profile
- Origin
- Israel
- Type
- Heavy armored personnel carrier / infantry fighting vehicle
- Service note
- 2008-present
- Designer
- Israel Military Industries
- Designed
- 2005-2007
- Unit cost
- About $3 million
- Produced
- 2008-present
- Developed from
- Merkava Mk 4 main battle tank
Specifications
- Crew
- 3 crew plus up to 9 troops
- Armament
- Usually a 12.7 mm M2HB or 40 mm Mk 19 on a Samson RCWS; many vehicles also carry a 7.62 mm MAG and 60 mm mortar
- Weight
- About 60 tonnes combat load
- Mobility
- 1,200 hp diesel engine; about 60 km/h road speed and roughly 500 km range
- Protection
- Merkava-derived modular armor, a front-engine layout, and Trophy active protection
Variants
Namer records usually distinguish the baseline protected troop carrier from specialized combat-engineering and turreted IFV configurations.
| Variant | Configuration | Designation notes |
|---|---|---|
| Namer heavy APC | Protected infantry carrier | The baseline Namer is the Merkava-derived heavy armored personnel carrier described by IDF and reference sources. Sources: IDF Holds Tech Expo, Namer | Weaponsystems.net |
| Namer IFV | Turreted infantry fighting vehicle configuration | Specialist reporting on Israeli Ministry of Defense material describes the Namer IFV with an unmanned 30 mm turret and roof-mounted Spike launchers. |
| Namer combat engineering vehicle (Nemera) | Combat-engineering armored vehicle | The IDF profiled Nemera as a Namer-family combat-engineering vehicle in service with IDF engineering forces. Sources: What is the Nemera armored vehicle? |
Active Protection
IDF materials describe Trophy as part of the Namer's survivability package on fielded vehicles.
| Compatible item | Item type | Compatibility evidence |
|---|---|---|
 | Active protection system | The IDF and reference sources describe Trophy-equipped Namer vehicles in service. Sources: The IDF's Top 10 Innovations, Namer | Weaponsystems.net |
Launched Missiles
The turreted Namer IFV configuration adds an anti-armor missile armament to the protected carrier family.
| Launched item | Item type | Launch evidence |
|---|---|---|
 | Anti-tank guided missile family | Army Recognition, citing Israeli Ministry of Defense test footage, described Namer IFV firing trials with Spike anti-tank missiles mounted in turret launchers. |
What Makes It Distinct
The Namer is one of Israel's clearest examples of a protection-first armored vehicle: a heavy infantry carrier built around a tank-derived automotive base, then expanded into engineering and turreted IFV roles.
| Feature | Reader takeaway | Source-backed context |
|---|---|---|
 | Shared automotive base | Reference material describes Namer as based on the Merkava family and the later Merkava 4 hull. |
| Built around survivability | IDF and reference sources describe Trophy-equipped Namer vehicles in service, and 2014 conflict analysis highlighted Israeli armored-vehicle protection against anti-tank guided missiles. |
| Rear troop exit | Urban dismounting under cover | The front-engine layout keeps the rear exit clear for infantry to leave the vehicle under armor. |
| IFV firepower growth | Specialist reporting on Israeli Ministry of Defense footage described Namer IFV missile firing trials with turret-mounted Spike launchers. |
| Nemera variant | Family expanded beyond APC duty | The IDF separately profiled a combat-engineering version in 2016 under the Nemera name. |
Timeline
Namer Key Events
Developed as a Merkava-based heavy APC
Weaponsystems.net describes the Namer as developed in 2005-2007 from the Merkava family, with Israel Military Industries as developer and MANTAK / IDF Ordnance as producer.
Sources: Namer | Weaponsystems.net
Enters IDF service
IDF materials say the Namer entered service in 2008 as a protected infantry carrier.
Sources: IDF Holds Tech Expo, Namer | Weaponsystems.net
IDF profiles the Nemera engineering variant
An IDF training page presents the Nemera armored vehicle as a combat-engineering version in IDF service.
Sources: What is the Nemera armored vehicle?
Spike missile firing test reported
Army Recognition reported Israeli Ministry of Defense footage of Spike anti-tank missile firing trials from the Namer IFV turret.
Sources: Army Recognition Namer Spike firing test
Reported in Gaza operations
AP reported IDF Namer APCs actively deployed in Gaza during the 2023 Israel-Hamas War.
Sources: Germany halts military exports to Israel for use in Gaza
Media
Namer Videos
Related Weapon Systems
Sources
Namer | Weaponsystems.netPublisher: Weaponsystems.net | Note: Supports the Namer's origin, developer, producer, production period, unit cost, Merkava Mk 4 lineage, and general technical background. | Accessed: 2026-07-01The IDF's Top 10 InnovationsPublisher: Israel Defense Forces | Note: Supports the Leopard alias, Namer's crew of three, Trophy active protection system, and IDF background context. | Accessed: 2026-07-01IDF Holds Tech ExpoPublisher: Israel Defense Forces | Note: Supports the Namer's Merkava-based design, 60-ton weight, road speed, and 2008 operational context. | Accessed: 2026-07-01What is the Nemera armored vehicle?Publisher: Israel Defense Forces | Note: Supports the Nemera alternate name and the IDF combat-engineering variant profile published in 2016. | Accessed: 2026-07-01INSS Military and Strategic Affairs Protective EdgePublisher: Institute for National Security Studies | Note: Supports the 2014 Gaza War; the study directly discusses Namer APCs during Operation Protective Edge and Hamas anti-tank missile attacks against IDF armored vehicles. | Accessed: 2026-07-01Army Recognition Namer Spike firing testPublisher: Army Recognition | Note: Supports the turreted Namer IFV configuration, 30 mm cannon, Spike missile launchers, and Israeli Ministry of Defense firing-test context. | Accessed: 2026-07-01Germany halts military exports to Israel for use in GazaPublisher: Associated Press | Note: Supports the 2023 Israel-Hamas War; AP reported IDF Namer armored personnel carriers actively deployed in Gaza. | Accessed: 2026-07-01Namer IFV 1.jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports image provenance for the primary Namer image. | Accessed: 2026-07-01Namer rishon3.jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports image provenance for the gallery Namer APC image. | Accessed: 2026-07-01Trophy on NAMER AFV.jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports image provenance for the gallery Namer Trophy APS image. | Accessed: 2026-07-01