Following the end of the Second Lebanon War in 2006, where Merkavas were frequently subjected to attacks from anti-tank weapons, a decision was made to equip the tanks with the "Trophy" active protection system developed by Rafael. The system was first presented to the public in 2005 at the LIC-2005 international exhibition in Tel Aviv. It includes a radar that detects and identifies incoming projectiles aimed at the tank. Upon receiving a signal from the radar, launch units are activated, firing countermeasures to intercept and destroy the warhead at maximum distance from the tank. Merkava Mk.4s equipped with this system, designated Merkava Mk.4M (Me'il Ruach, מעיל רוח; lit. "Windbreaker"), were adopted for service in the early 2010s and have already participated in several regional conflicts.
Introduced in Update "Wind of Change", the Merkava Mk.4M is the ultimate subvariant of the Merkava Mk.4. Players can lead assaults into modern battlefields without fear of ATGMs from both ground vehicles and helicopters, thanks to the Trophy APS. The Merkava Mk.4M is a truly modern main battle tank designed for even the most intense conflict, providing the finest protection and firepower to confront any adversary. Players should bear in mind, however, that the Trophy APS does not give unlimited protection, and hence the tank should not stay out in the open for long during combat.