IMI 120 mm gun

The IMI 120 mm gun is an L44 smoothbore tank gun designed and produced by Israeli Military Industries (IMI). It is widely confused as a licensed production of the Rheinmetall L44 tank gun, however it was developed by IMI from 1983 to 1988, to meet the requirements of the Israel Defense Forces' Merkava Mark III main battle tank, i.e. a narrower mount like in the M-60, both tanks designed around a 105mm gun.

IMI 120 mm MG251 & MG253 tank gun
MG253 tank gun
Typesmoothbore tank gun
Place of originIsrael
Service history
In service
  • MG251: 1989–present[1]
  • MG253: 2003–present
Used bysee the operators section
Production history
ManufacturerIsraeli Military Industries
VariantsMG251
MG251-LR
MG253
Specifications
Mass2,900 kilograms (6,400 lb)[2]
Length5.3 meters (17 ft)[2]
Caliber120-millimeter (4.7 in)[2]
Recoil
  • MG251: 300 millimeters (12 in)[2]
  • MG253: 430 millimeters (17 in)[2]

It was first revealed in 1989 when it was shown to be the main armament of the Merkava Mark III. In 1990 the Israel Defense Prize was awarded to Israeli Military Industries for this development, which gave Israel the means to produce tank guns independently.

Design

This tank gun is very similar to the Rheinmetall L44 versions installed on the German Leopard 2, American M1 Abrams, South Korean K1A1, and Japanese Type 90 main battle tanks. However, it has a different recoil system, consisting of an optimized concentric retarder and pneumatic recuperator, and more compact overall dimensions, not exceeding those of the existing 105 mm Royal Ordnance M68 105 mm rifled gun of the Merkava Marks I and II, and the M60 Patton.

Versions

There are three versions of the IMI 120 mm gun:[3] the MG251, fitted with a thermal sleeve developed by Vishay Intertechnology and provided with a fume extractor which can be removed for maintenance without disturbing the actual sleeve, its improved version MG251-LR[3] and the MG253, with a thermal sleeve developed by VIDCO Industries and a new compressed gas recoil system.

They fire a family of ammunition developed by IMI, can fire French, German or US 120 mm NATO ammunition if required, and also fire the LAHAT anti-tank guided missile.

  • IMI 120 mm gun.
  • Different shells for IMI 120 mm gun.
  • Muzzle flash of the IMI 120 mm gun.
  • M60T Sabra Mk II equipped with IMI 120 mm gun.

Operators
Map with IMI 120mm operators in blue

Current operators

See also

Weapons of comparable role, performance and era

References
  1. "Israel Military Industries 120 mm smoothbore tank gun MG251 (Israel)". Jane's Information Group. Archived from the original on 2010-11-01. Retrieved 2019-11-26.
  2. "120mm L44 (MG251/3) Smoothbore Tank Guns". IMI Systems. Archived from the original on 2016-12-31. Retrieved 2019-11-26.
  3. "Elbit Systems Land Tank Ammunition Portfolio" (PDF). Elbit Systems. Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 January 2020. Retrieved 12 January 2020.
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