A German company that manufactures engines and transmission systems for Israel's main battle tanks and armored personnel carriers.
Renk AG is a German manufacturer of transmissions, engines, and vehicle suspension systems. It developed the RK325 transmission unit for battle tanks. Coupled with the MT883 engine manufactured by MTU, this power unit is known as the EuroPowerPack and is used in multiple European battle tanks.
Israel used this tank extensively in its 2006 invasion of Lebanon and its 2012, 2014, 2021, and 2023–2024 assaults on Gaza. Artillery and tank shelling killed at least 81 children during Israel's 2014 assault on Gaza, according to Defense for Children International. Israeli soldiers also reported using tanks to purposefully destroy Palestinian agricultural lands. Israel used its Merkava battle tanks extensively in its 2023 ground invasion of the Gaza Strip, including in its attacks on the Shifa Hospital and the Indonesian Hospital.
A Renk factory in the U.S. manufactures MT883 engines, which enables Israel to purchase them through the Foreign Military Sales program. These engines are made under license from their German developer, Rolls-Royce subsidiary MTU. The factory, located in Muskegon, Michigan, was formerly owned by General Dynamics and then by L-3/L3Harris; Renk acquired it in 2021. These engines are the only major component of the Merkava tank that is made outside of Israel.