Exports of Israel’s advanced Merkava tank are expected to reach some $400 million by 2008, according to the Association of Metal and Electronics Industries. This year Merkava tank sales rose 13% to $350 million. The IDF itself is continuously buying the Merkava as part of its plan to replace about 2-3% of its tanks per year with the new Merkava 4, in order to provide superior protection to tank crews. But the Association says the IDF and government’s indecision about the future of the Merkava is causing damage to Merkava’s exports. Some 220 factories are involved in the manufacture of the Israeli made tank, employing some 10,000 workers.