Israel has been under criticism from international human rights groups
for using the flechette in wars with Hamas and Hizbullah in 2009 and 2006.
Yehezkel said flechette, which emit thousands of 3.75 mm darts, would be
replaced by 105 mm and 120 mm shells known as Anti-Personnel Anti-Material
and manufactured by the state-owned Israel Military Industries (IMI).
"It's a matter of opting for a shell that performs better, with obvious
humanitarian benefits," Yehezkel told the Reuters news agency.
Yehezkel said the rounds manufactured by IMI contained a reduced kill
zone. He said APAM was also designed to destroy light armored vehicles as
well as block an infantry offensive.
"The kill zone is much reduced, and focused," Yehezkel said. "No one
else has this kind of weapon."
Flechettes have been permitted by international conventions. But in
2003, Israel's Supreme Court said commanders must ensure that flechette
would not harm civilians.
The Armored Corps has also been preparing to install active protection
systems on the Merkava Mk-4 main battle tank fleet. Yehezkel said the Trophy
APS system, manufactured by Israel's state-owned Rafael Advanced Defense
Systems, would be installed on the first 11 Mk-4 MBTs by June 2010. By the
end of the year, the first Mk-4 battalion, or 36 MBTs, would receive Trophy.
Officials said Trophy would protect Israeli MBTs in any war against
Hamas and Hizbullah. During the 2006 war, at least 42 tanks were disabled by
Hizbullah mines or rocket attacks. Yehezkel said the army deployed between
250 and 300 MBTs during the 33-day war in Lebanon.
"Trophy can defeat any anti-tank rocket out there," Yehezkel said.