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D9R, Israel's armored excavator that operates directly in the Gaza Strip and can withstand attacks from small arms and even missiles.
Imagine a vehicle that combines the functionality of a bulldozer with the robustness of an armored tank, capable of plowing through debris, detonating explosives and even demolishing entire buildings. This is the D9R, an armored excavator, employed by one of the most advanced armies in the world in one of the most turbulent regions of the globe.
D9R has been used since the 80s by the Israeli army
The D9R, an Israeli armored excavator, is an imposing and controversial machine that has been a key part of the country's military operations in the Gaza Strip. With its reinforced armor and state-of-the-art systems, the D9R is a symbol of Israel's technological power and determination to combat groups it considers terrorists.
The D9 is a tracked tractor produced by Caterpillar, one of the largest construction equipment manufacturers in the world. The Israeli army, known as the IDF, uses a special version of the D9, with reinforced armor, to perform various tasks on the battlefield, especially in densely built urban areas such as the Gaza strip.
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This is the reason for D9R looks like a tractor taken from the movie Mad Max. Despite attracting the attention of many, the use of tractors in wars like this Israeli armored excavator is nothing new. Already in Second World War More than 10.000 Caterpillar D7 units were used for various functions such as removing obstacles, building trenches and even transporting troops and supplies.
Israel began using D9Rs in the 50s, but it was after the first intifada in the late 80s that their use intensified. At that time, tractors were equipped with improvised armor to protect the operator.
Understand how the excavator shield works, supporting even missiles
Initially, the D9R bulldozer's armor was designed to be light enough to withstand small arms fire and shrapnel from explosions. However, with the increased threat posed by rockets and anti-tank missiles, the D9R's armor underwent a process of evolution.
In the early 2000s, a new generation of armor was developed in a collaboration between the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), the Israel Aerospace Industries and the Israeli importer of Caterpillar.
In 2005, bar armor was introduced, applied on a large scale in D9R. This armor, known in 2006 as Venetian Armor, forms a kind of cage around the vehicle to prematurely detonate the missiles' shaped charges, proving to be extremely effective and saving countless lives. The developers of this technology even received an award from the IDF ground command.
In addition to the D9R armored excavator, the Israeli army also operates the D9N, a remotely controlled version dubbed the “Black Thunder“, used in high-risk missions to open paths in dangerous areas and detonate explosives.
Main functions of armored excavator D9R
More recently, in 2019, the fourth generation of armor was launched for the newest D9R and D9T models, which now includes an active protection system known as Iron Fist, capable of intercepting imminent threats.
The functions of Israel's armored bulldozer are diverse and vital, including clearing the way for advancing tanks and troops by removing barricades and rubble, exposing and neutralizing tunnels used by Palestinian fighters, demolishing structures that serve as launch pads for missiles and rockets, detonate explosive devices and land mines, as well as assist in the construction of defensive positions for infantry.
On certain occasions, the D9s have been used in controversial missions, such as demolishing the homes of families of suicide bombers, a measure that Israel justifies as a deterrent, but that critics classify as collective punishment. Despite their robust armor, the D9 are not invulnerable.
In 2014, during Operation Protective Edge in Gaza, an Israeli armored excavator was hit by an anti-tank missile, resulting in the death of the operator and injuries to the commander.
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