They Drive 65-Ton Merkava Tanks
The Merkava is Israel's main battle tank — a 65-ton beast of armor, firepower, and engineering that's widely considered one of the best tanks in the world. For decades, the Armored Corps was an all-male bastion. That changed when women were approved to serve as tank crew members, and the first female tank operators proved that driving and maintaining a Merkava has nothing to do with gender and everything to do with skill.
Operating a Merkava requires mastering complex mechanical systems, coordinating with a four-person crew in a cramped, sweltering interior, and making split-second tactical decisions during live maneuvers. Female tank crew members undergo the same armored warfare training as their male counterparts — including live-fire exercises and grueling desert operations. The integration hasn't been without pushback, but the performance data speaks for itself.
