$125 Million 12-year Contract to Include Simulators
Elbit Systems announced on 27 March that it has been awarded a contract by the Israeli Ministry of Defence (MoD) to supply fully automatic self-propelled howitzer systems to the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF).
The contract, valued at NIS 460 million ($125 million), will include the supply of training simulators and will be performed over a 12-year period. Additional parts of the programme, to be contracted for separately, are expected to be performed by a number of US companies, including Elbit Systems of America. The system, capable of automatic loading and laying, will be based on know-how and experience the company has accumulated over decades of supplying artillery systems to numerous armed forces. It will also automatically select the required projectile, propellant and fuze, load them and lay the gun to optimally engage targets, depending on the applicable mission. The new howitzer will enhance the effectiveness of the IDF’s artillery formations, while reducing the number of soldiers in each platform and significantly reducing life-cycle costs.
“We are proud to take part in building the future artillery formation of the IDF. This contract award is a vote of confidence in Israeli defence technology and an acknowledgment of the international leadership of Elbit Systems in the area of artillery systems. We believe that effective integration of precision, rapidity and autonomy together with a built-in connectivity to the communication and command and control systems will become the required standard. We are witnessing a growing need for advanced and reliable artillery systems that enable powerful and efficient operation in all combat configurations,” observed company President & CEO, Bezhalel Machlis.