The United States government has authorized the sale of additional MTU 8V199TE21-D engines to equip the new 8×8 Eitan wheeled armored combat vehicle of the Israel Defense Forces. This stems from a recent notification submitted by the State Department to the U.S. Congress for approval of the operation through the FMS program.
Born from a partnership between various Israeli and U.S. companies, the Eitan is one of the most modern armored platforms being introduced by the Israel Defense Forces. The 8×8 wheeled armored combat vehicle made its combat debut during operations against the terrorist group Hamas throughout 2023 and 2024. Its presence in the Gaza Strip since October 2023 came months after the first units were received by the Nahal Infantry Brigade in May of the same year.
To mention some of its features, in its armored personnel carrier version, the Eitan can transport up to 12 soldiers to the combat zone, with high protection levels compared to the older M113s it is intended to replace. This is partly due to lessons incorporated into its design from past conflicts, as well as the presence of the Iron Fist Active Protection System (APS).
As noted, various U.S. companies, including subsidiaries of other firms based in the United States, are involved in the development and supply of key components, such as the hulls—manufactured by Oshkosh Defense—and the engines, supplied by Rolls-Royce Solutions America, Inc.
This is reflected in the recent authorization submitted by the State Department, in which, through a request, the U.S. government authorized the provision of new MTU 8V199TE21-D engines for the Israeli Eitans, with Rolls-Royce Solutions America, Inc. as the main supplier, for an amount of US$180 million.
According to the publication on April 14 by the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA), the authorization is an expansion of a previous order, valued at US$85.5 million, which included the provision of MTU 8V199TE21-D engines and “…engine components; technical assistance from the U.S. Government and contractors; non-recurring engineering from the contractor; and other elements related to program and logistical support.”
The State Department emphasized: “The United States is committed to the security of Israel, and it is vital to U.S. national interests to assist Israel in developing and maintaining a strong and ready self-defense capability. This proposed sale is consistent with those objectives.”
Adding: “The proposed sale will enhance Israel’s ability to meet current and future threats by strengthening its capability to defend its borders, critical infrastructure, and population centers. This sale will also increase interoperability with U.S. forces and reaffirms the U.S. commitment to Israel’s security and the modernization of its armed forces. Israel will have no difficulty absorbing this equipment into its armed forces.”
Finally, regarding the engines, these correspond to one of the variants of the MTU 199 series, which is also equipping other wheeled transport and combat vehicles. Among these, the 8×8 APCs of the Boxer family stand out, which are being incorporated by various forces, such as the British Army.
You may also like: Israel Defense Forces Test Iron Dome System Against New Aerial Threat Scenarios
