Exposing the role that Islamic jihad theology and ideology play in the modern global conflicts

IDF Repurposes Out-of-Date Equipment: Explosive-Laden APCs

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The Israelis have been remarkable at coming up with new offensive weaponry, such as the Merkava-4 tank, and new defensive weaponry, such as the Iron Dome and Iron Beam anti-missile defense systems. And now we learn that the IDF has found a new, lethal use for its out-of-date armored personnel carriers (APCs). Laden with explosives, they are directed remotely to targets in Gaza and exploded from a distance, setting off Hamas-laid mines and killing Hamas fighters in their hideous. More on this repurposing of older equipment can be found here: “APCs packed with explosives become key IDF weapon in Gaza war,” by Amir Bohbot, Jerusalem Post, September 2, 2025:

In recent days, the IDF has significantly increased its use of explosive-laden armored personnel carriers (APCs), older M113 models rigged with explosives and operated remotely, as part of preparations for a ground maneuver in the heart of Gaza City.

Acting on orders from Southern Command Chief Maj.-Gen. Yaniv Asor, the deployment of these vehicles has surged, with reserve officers in the field reporting that their usage has tripled at its peak. Forces on the ground have testified to the movement of hundreds of these explosive-laden APCs toward the Gaza border.

These modified APCs are based on the aging M113 platform, which has long faced public criticism due to its vulnerability to enemy fire and maintenance challenges. During Operation Protective Edge in 2014, one such vehicle was struck by an anti-tank missile and set ablaze — an incident that led to the kidnapping of St.-Sgt. Oron Shaul. The event shocked the public and reignited debate over the continued use of these outdated vehicles….

These aging APCs have been given a new lease on life by the IDF, which has turned them from firing artillery shells to being massive bombs on wheels, operated remotely. These repurposed APCs have already been used, in small numbers, in Gaza, but now hundreds more are on the outskirts of Gaza City, prepared to be sent in without a crew.

When these APCs explode, they set off the Hamas mines that line the streets, they kill Hamas combatants in their hideouts. And these repurposed APCs prove that yet again that the Israelis manage to find new ways to destroy the enemy, even with out-of-date equipment that is given a different task. These explosive-laden APCs are no longer being used to fire artillery shells at the enemy, but rather, are stuffed with explosives, and operated remotely. No IDF soldiers need be nearby. These hugely lethal weapons of war are detonated from afar, setting off explosions of Hamas-laid mines and destroying Hamas fighters in their lairs. Hundreds of superannuated APCs, instead of being put out of service, have instead been given a new task, with a greater lethality. Waste not, want not appears to be the IDF’s motto.

Comments

  1. Looks like the IDF have taken a leaf out Ukraine’s approach to repurposing out-of-date equipment. Out-of-date equipment used to destroy followers of an out-of-date ideology! Good job!

    • Yeah, both Israel and Ukraine need to minimize their dependence on the Western military-industrial complex, and cover at least 50% of what they need. In Israel’s case, they can decline the “aid”, which they have to use in purchasing US gear, and instead make what they can, and buy the rest on the open market, not just from India, but also Russia (which for all its political posturing in support of Iran is increasingly mercenary) and anyone else willing to sell. They could also bribe Moscow for Security Council vetoes, if the US turns on them, as I expect us to, given the newly minted antisemites in the MAGA movement. It’s in Israel’s interests to wean itself away from dependence on the West, and deal w/ the likes of China and Russia on their own terms, not ours

      Ukraine too – since they’re now being armed, the proposal that they had back in 2022, where they would get Soviet era MIGs from Poland, which they were familiar w/, and use that to attack Russia, should be revived, and the US can deliver Poland replacement US fighters. Incidentally, I have been watching some other videos from the Russian side, and looks like things are pretty bad there. Belgorod, which is a Russian city near the Ukraine border, resembles a ghost town: everybody who could afford to flee has. In the meantime, the reason Russia can’t take anything that the West would give them is that they’d have a chaotic future once all those conscripts to Ukraine return. I’m just hoping that we don’t see a second Russian revolution that gives us a second Soviet Russia (sans the other republics, like Kazakhstan, Ukraine, et al)

  3. It’s good they can ‘jury-rig’ these things, but they don’t have to tell it all.

    • True – if Hamas think the vehicles are manned, maybe they will use up all their ammunition on them.

  4. Improvise and overcome. Getting rid of FataHamas terrorists a good thing.

  5. Wir wiederholen hier in Europa dieselben Fehler, die Israel in bester Absicht und gutem Glauben mit den Osloer Abkommen unterlaufen sind. Hoffentlich schicken wir unsere verantwortungslosen, vor Naivität und Bildungsferne strotzenden Politiker bald in die Wüste, damit uns dieser leidvolle Weg, den Israel gehen musste, erspart bleibt.

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