With rumors of another round in the air and Iranian nuclear efforts advancing, the Israeli newspaper Ha'aretz has reported that the Israeli Defense Force has devised a procurement plan to face whatever may come next.

Highlights include another reservist division and continued production of Merkava Mark IV main battle tanks — as well as anti-missile defenses in the Merkava Mk IVs and in many of the Mark III and Mark IIs.

A post-mortem following the engagement in Lebanon with Hamas in 2006 found that too many Israeli tanks were successfully penetrated by advanced, dual-warhead Russian RPG-29s and AT-13 and AT-14 anti-tank missiles — despite the widespread use of explosive reactive armor protection and other measures. In August, Jane's Defense Weekly reported that of 50 IDF Merkava Mk 2, 3 and 4 MBTs hit, 21 were penetrated. Most tanks returned to the fight even when penetrated, but too many tank crewmen did not.

Plans include acquiring hundreds of new armored personnel carriers, including the new Namer ("Tiger") heavy tracked APC. The Namer is based on the Merkava tank chassis; Merkava tanks already have an unusual and useful rear door feature that enables swapping out ammunition storage and fitting in, instead, 2-3 troops. Israel has already acquired experience in transforming captured Soviet T-54/T-55 tanks into Achzarit APCs. In addition, American-made Stryker-wheeled fighting vehicles will be procured in large numbers.

The IDF will continue development of a next-generation anti-ballistic missile system, based on the Arrow system, as well as Rafael's Iron Dome/Cap system for countering short-range Katyusha and Qassam rockets.

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