A German company that makes transmissions for Israel's Merkava battle tank and Namer armored personnel carrier.
Renk AG is a German manufacturer of transmissions (gearboxes), engines, and vehicle suspension systems, whose products are integrated into multiple battle tanks and other military vehicles. Its RK-325 transmission systems are essential components of Israel's Merkava battle tank (Marks 4 and 5) as well as the Namer armored personnel carrier. Sales to Israel account for 2-3% of Renk's business, as of 2025.
Following a 2025 decision by the German government to suspend exports of some military equipment to Israel, Renk CEO said the company might shift production of the Merkava/Namer RK-325 gearbox from Germany to the U.S. This would enable Renk to fulfill its existing contract with Israel for hundreds of gearboxes. He added that, "from the German point of view, we have a responsibility to ensure that Israel is able to maintain its deterrence capabilities." The Israeli military also buys these gearboxes from Ashot Ashkelon, which manufactures them in Israel under license from Renk.
Renk has also also provided Israel with the Merkava and Namer MT-883 engines. These were assembled in Muskegon, Michigan, which enables Israel to receive them as a gift from the U.S. government through its Foreign Military Sales program. This factory was formerly owned by General Dynamics Land Systems, later by L-3/L3Harris, and Renk acquired it in 2021. The latest indication that this factory in Michigan delivers engines to Israel is from 2019. More recent contracts for these engines have been awarded to MTU/Rolls-Royce, and it is unclear if Renk is still involved in the production of engines for Israel.
Merkava Tanks Used in War Crimes
The Israeli military has been using the Merkava as its exclusive main battle tank for decades, and used it extensively in the 2023-2025 Gaza genocide. Merkava tanks were part of the January 2024 killing of 6-year-old Hind Rajab and her family. Tank-mounted machine guns fired on the Rajab family vehicle, and a 120mm tank round was found in the remains of the ambulance crew that attempted to rescue her. Merkava tanks also took part in a June 3, 2025 incident, in which the Israeli military killed 27 Palestinians as they were waiting for food at a "humanitarian" distribution point. In addition, Merkava tanks were reportedly used to "deliberately run over dozens of Palestinian civilians alive" and to destroy civilian property in multiple separate incidents during 2023-2024.
Merkava tanks were also used in Israel's systematic attacks on Gaza's hospitals. For example, Merkava tanks participated in repeated attacks on Shifa Hospital, blockading the entrance and firing on unarmed civilians trying to evacuate in November 2023, and later reportedly firing “nonstop” at the ICU in March 2024. Merkava tanks similarly attacked the Indonesian Hospital and the Kamal Adwan Hospital in November-December 2023. Since hospitals are afforded special protections under international law, these attacks could amount to war crimes.
Before 2023, Israel used Merkava tanks in all of its ground assaults on the Gaza Strip, including the large scale assaults of 2008 and 2014. During Israel's 2014 assault on Gaza, artillery and tank shelling killed at least 81 children, and Merkava tanks were reportedly used to purposefully destroy Palestinian agricultural lands. In 2018, Merkava tanks participated in Israel's "murderous assault against protesting Palestinians" as part of the "Great March of Return" protests in the Gaza Strip. The Merkava Mark 4, the first to include the RK-325, was extensively used in the 2006 Lebanon War and became operational two years earlier, during the Second Palestinian Uprising. In February 2025, Israel deployed Merkava tanks in the occupied West Bank for the first time since then.