World's first armored tractor designed for farmers near combat zones
TEL AVIV — A newly-developed armored tractor allows farmers to till their fields, by remote control if necessary, amid flying bullets and artillery shells.
The "Memugan" tractor was designed specifically for farmers along the border of the Gaza Strip.
The Israeli firm, Mifram, said the tractor was developed in cooperation with the Israeli
military and could withstand an attack from light arms and short-range missiles, Middle East Newsline reported.
Mifram, importer of the U.S.-origin John Deere tractor, said Memugan
would enable Israeli farmers to resume activity along the border with the
Gaza Strip.
"Memugan is an armored tractor capable of
withstanding a full strike by small arms, Kassam rockets and mortar shells
used by terrorists in the Gaza Strip," Mifram said on
July 24.
The company, which presented the vehicle on July 24, also has
developed and exported shelters to such countries as Australia, Japan and
the United States.
Executives said Memugan could be operated by remote control. They said
the vehicle met the requirements of the Israeli military as well as the
Transportation Ministry.
In 2007, Israel's military began using its first remote-control
bulldozers. The D-9 MTL 257B bulldozer, manufactured by the U.S. firm
Caterpillar, was modified by the Israeli firm InRob Tech.
