| IMI 120 mm MG251 & MG253 tank gun | |
|---|---|
 MG253 tank gun | |
| Type | smoothbore tank gun |
| Place of origin | Israel |
| Service history | |
| In service |
|
| Used by | see the operators section |
| Production history | |
| Manufacturer | Israeli Military Industries |
| Produced | 1988– |
| Variants | MG251 MG251-LR MG253 |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 2,900 kilograms (6,400 lb)[2] |
| Length | 5.3 meters (17 ft)[2] |
| Caliber | 120×570mm[2] |
| Recoil | |
The IMI 120 mm gun is an L44 smoothbore tank gun designed and produced by Israeli Military Industries (IMI). It is widely confused as a licensed production of the Rheinmetall L44 tank gun, however it was developed by IMI from 1983 to 1988, to meet the requirements of the Israel Defense Forces' Merkava Mark III main battle tank, i.e. a narrower mount like in the M60, both tanks designed around a 105 mm gun.
It was first revealed in 1989 when it was shown to be the main armament of the Merkava Mark III. In 1990 the Israel Defense Prize was awarded to Israeli Military Industries for this development, which gave Israel the means to produce tank guns independently.
- ^ "Israel Military Industries 120 mm smoothbore tank gun MG251 (Israel)". Jane's Information Group. Archived from the original on 2010-11-01. Retrieved 2019-11-26.
- ^ a b c d e "120mm L44 (MG251/3) Smoothbore Tank Guns". IMI Systems. Archived from the original on 2016-12-31. Retrieved 2019-11-26.