To mark the 77th Independence Day of the State of Israel (Thursday), the IDF proudly presents the story of the “Eitan” armored personnel carrier — one of the standout symbols of Israel’s defense industry in recent years. This innovative combat vehicle, built on an eight-wheeled platform, is entirely a blue-and-white development, representing Israel’s self-sufficiency in initiative, ingenuity, and production.
The Eitan entered operational service in the IDF in 2023 and has already taken part in dozens of missions, including “Operation Golden Hand” — a high-profile hostage rescue — and recent combat operations in northern Samaria.
Evolved through multiple versions and upgrades
The Eitan has become one of the IDF’s core armored platforms in the field. It is a powerful, highly maneuverable vehicle designed to carry up to 12 soldiers. The IDF showcased the development, assembly, and deployment process on its official website, as part of a special tour at the maintenance facility where the vehicle is built.
Development of the Eitan began back in 2016 and continued over several years, during which the vehicle went through multiple iterations and upgrades. The final development phase took place at the Rakia Workshop within the IDF’s Maintenance Center 7000, where the body of the vehicle is precisely assembled using some of the world’s most advanced — and in some cases autonomous — welding machines.
Once welding and assembly are complete, the vehicle moves on to painting, computing system integration, and final combat readiness preparations. Alongside this, a broad collaboration begins with dozens of factories from across Israel’s defense and civilian industries, providing components such as fuel systems, combat seating, and protective armor — all delivered to the assembly site. It is a truly national effort, merging the strengths of the IDF with those of Israeli industry.
Eitan APCs leaving the Merkava production facility | Watch:
“More than just a technological leap”
Major M., commander of the Rakia Workshop, explains:
“Every component — from the protective armor to the digital command systems — was designed, produced, and assembled in Israel.”
He emphasized that the vehicle is “more than just a technological leap; it’s a national point of pride.”
A key innovation of the Eitan is its advanced wheel system. The vehicle is equipped to handle diverse terrain conditions with adaptive real-time air pressure adjustment and automatic tire inflation in case of a puncture during a mission.
As already demonstrated in the field — including during “Operation Golden Hand” — the Eitan has proven itself a reliable and central asset in maneuvering forces. On Israel’s 77th Independence Day, the Eitan stands tall as a symbol of technological strength, domestic manufacturing capability, and unwavering national spirit.
Extreme terrain test conducted four years ago | Watch:
