As 125mm main battle tanks (MBTs) such as the T-72, T-80 and T-90 are in widespread use by armies worldwide and as the battlefield is becoming more and more asymmetric - there is a great demand for advanced 125mm tank ammunition, and in particular, multi-purpose (MP) ammunition.

As one of the world’s leading developers and manufactures of tank ammunition, Israel Military Industries Ltd. (IMI), has implemented its advanced technologies and expertise in developing and producing 105mm, 120mm and 125mm tank rounds for Eastern smoothbore tank guns.

Recently, IMI developed a new 125mm HE-MP-T (high-explosive multi-purpose tracered) tank round, dubbed M710. The M710 is the latest of IMI’s family of MP tank ammunition, first introduced as the M117/1 for 105mm rifled guns of the M-60 and Merkava Mk. 1 & Mk. 2 tanks. The combat proven M329 was later developed for the modern 120mm smoothbore gun used with current Merkava Mk. 3 & Mk. 4 and is also compatible with NATO 120mm smoothbore tank guns.

An additional MP round, the M339, has been developed primarily for western tanks using NATO 120mm smoothbore guns, such as the M1A1, Ariete, Leopard 2 and more.

The M710 provides an ultimate solution for fighting in urban scenarios, as it is designed to engage various targets at extended ranges, including bunkers, vehicles and fortifications, as well as anti-tank (AT) squads and infantry in the open, in a foxhole or behind a corner. Similar to the M339, M710 uses an electronic fuzing system and has three different modes of operation: PDD (point detonation delayed), PD (point detonation/super quick) and air burst. The tank’s fire control system (FCS) feeds the target information and the programmable electronic fuze is set by wireless data link while the round is in the chamber.