Rather than scrap the old fleet, the IDF devised a way to transform them into offensive assets.
By Hezy Laing
Another innovative leap for the IDF.
In a bold tactical shift, the IDF has begun repurposing outdated armored personnel carriers (APCs), packing them with explosives and essentially turning them into mobile bombs.
These modified M113 APCs, long criticized for their vulnerability and mechanical issues, are now being repurposed as remotely operated demolition units ahead of a major ground offensive in Gaza City.
Under the directive of Maj.-Gen. Yaniv Asor, head of the IDF Southern Command, the deployment of these explosive carriers has surged dramatically.
Field officers report a threefold increase in their use, with hundreds of units mobilized toward the Gaza border in recent days.
The M113’s troubled legacy includes the 2014 Operation Protective Edge, when one was hit by an anti-tank missile, leading to the abduction of St.-Sgt. Oron Shaul—a moment that reignited public outcry over the continued use of the aging platform.
Rather than scrap the fleet, the IDF’s Technological and Logistics Directorate devised a way to transform them into offensive assets.
Loaded with high-grade explosives, these APCs are remotely driven or towed into hostile zones and detonated remotely, targeting terrorist infrastructure.
Engineering officers say the blasts are calibrated to clear minefields, destroy surveillance systems, and eliminate entrenched enemy fighters, all while minimizing risk to Israeli troops.
“This strategy allows for safer, swifter advances into enemy territory,” one officer explained.
New deployment methods include robotic towing systems and automated drop mechanisms for explosive barrels, which can be released along mine-infested streets.
The resulting detonations are so powerful they’ve reportedly been heard over 100 kilometers away from the Gaza Strip.
This transformation of obsolete hardware into cutting-edge battlefield tools reflects Israel’s ongoing commitment to adaptive warfare and force protection.
