Merkava Mk.4 Barak (Lightning) – SimplePlanes

This build is based on the real Merkava Mk.4 Barak, Israel’s latest-generation evolution of the Merkava family, developed by the Israeli Ministry of Defense’s armored vehicle directorate (MANTAK) for the IDF Armored Corps. The Barak program was built to give crews faster target engagement, better survivability, and dramatically higher battlefield awareness in complex modern combat.

The real Barak is centered around a smart AI-assisted mission computer that helps crews process combat information, reduce cognitive load, and prioritize threats/targets faster than legacy tank workflows.

It also emphasizes full digital warfare integration:
• 360° situational awareness via distributed sensors/cameras
• Advanced networked data sharing / real-time battle management between units and branches
• Touchscreen-driven digital crew environment and mission apps
• Improved hunter-killer style engagement flow for faster detect-decide-strike cycles

Crew survivability and protection are major pillars of the platform:
• Trophy APS (“Meil Ruach” / Windbreaker) hard-kill active protection layer
• Strong Merkava-family modular armor philosophy
• Defensive awareness + rapid reaction against anti-tank threats

A headline Barak capability is the helmet-based vision concept:
• IronVision-style see-through armor capability with near-360° external video fusion for closed-hatch awareness and combat maneuvering in dense terrain.

This SimplePlanes version is inspired by those ideas: high awareness, fast response, active defense behavior, and multi-layered fire control.

Features (Build)
• Main cannon with integrated machine guns
• Independent machine gun control
• LAHAT 2 missiles
• Smoke screen system
• APS behavior (Barak-inspired Trophy concept)
• Mortar system
• Rear door operation
• Functional lights
• Dedicated gun-control camera workflow

Activation Groups
• AG1 – Machine guns slaved to main cannon
• AG2 – Independent machine gun (Roll + Pitch) + separate camera
• AG3 – APS (activated on fire)
• AG4 – Unused
• AG5 – Rear door
• AG6 – Mortar
• AG7 – Lights
• AG8 – Main/General activation

Controls
• Turret control is based on the gun-control camera POV
• Mortar control (when active): Trim
• Forward: Throttle
• Reverse: VTOL Down
• In water, forward: VTOL Up
• Turning (all modes): Yaw
A giant thanks for: @BlackEnder (first tank idea) @CrestelAeronautics (APS) @Kerbango (flag) and @Zhixunlin23 (antennas)

Made by ORranIsrael