IDF struggles to conserve fuel
The loss of fuel, estimated at NIS 1.5 million a year, motivated the army to develop cost-effective solutions; on the agenda: an installed device for every tank and a robot so as to allow forces to refuel in enemy territory.
In recent years, the IDF has identified dozens of cases in which ‘Dalkanim’ were stolen from military vehicles or from trucks. A ‘Dalkan’ is a specialized pre-paid device that allows the carrier to refuel their vehicle in all gas stations belonging to the particular company with whom the arrangement has been made. Since the device is pre-paid and pre-installed in the vehicle, a visit to the gas station would be hassle- and cash-free.
In some cases, thieves broke into military bases and ripped out the dalkan, while in others, the devices were stolen from vehicles parked near the soldiers’ homes or while the cars were taken to the garage.
The solution: a ‘suicide Dalkan’ that automatically ceases to operate as soon as it is disassembled from vehicles. In addition, there is an initiative to prevent the pumping of fuel by connecting the device to the vehicle's mileage meter, which would immediately alert the fuel company of a gap between the vehicle's mileage and the amount of fuel consumed.
This is a system that already exists in the civilian world, but the IDF was afraid to use due to the possibility of cyber attacks—connecting to the mileage computer in the military vehicle would possibly enable a remote connection to the rest of the vehicles, thereby taking control of them. The new device will circumvent the vehicle’s computer and will be set to only recognize the mileage computer.
In the coming weeks another measure will be introduced to prevent fuel leakage: a personal code for each Dalkan, which will require the soldier or the career officer to enter a personal code at every refueling.
The IDF intends to put an end to the free fueling at hundreds of gas stations within the army bases, and a new computerized system will monitor and allow each military vehicle to refuel inside a base as necessary. The system will also identify leakage or suspicious shortages in fuel tanks.
The army's technology, logistics, and armament departments are also planning to install Dalkanim for tanks, other armored vehicles, and even to tankers in charge of field refueling. Thus far, refueling armored vehicles has been done without any actual supervision.
Also in development: a special and expendable robotic system that will supply many kilometers of fuel to forces maneuvering during war in a safe and efficient manner. The IDF is in the process of developing a prototype, with the goal of also cutting back on security forces required to accompany logistic supplies into the Gaza Strip or southern Lebanon during a possible future war.
"Fuel has become synonymous with unmarked bills," an IDF officer told Ynet, "The fuel could not be tracked, so we decided on a set of solutions according to the concept of ‘If you can’t measure it, you can’t handle it.”
(Translated and edited by N. Elias)
