A helmet-mounted device, the AN/PVS-14 allows soldiers to move rapidly at night without the need for multiple specialized equipment.

It incorporates high-magnification lenses and an infrared illuminator for capturing clear images in low-light conditions.

It can also spot targets at an effective range of 150 meters (492 feet).

While the exact number of devices was not disclosed, the announcement said the tech will be assembled at its facility in Roanoke, Virginia.

Work for the deal is also expected to be completed by March 2026.

Enhancing Night Vision Capabilities

Earlier this year, Elbit Systems secured a $12-million contract to supply the army with an undisclosed number of its AN/PVS-14 devices.

In April, L3Harris signed a $256-million deal with the US Army for its Enhanced Night Vision Goggle-Binocular.

The tech incorporates white phosphor and thermal technologies for precision targeting and identification.

The army also tapped Elbit Systems in 2021 to produce AN/PVS-14s under a $54-million contract.

The post US Army Buys Additional Monocular Night Vision Devices From Elbit appeared first on The Defense Post.

The $114-million deal was first announced by the Israeli firm in July 2023, but it did not say what “Asia-Pacific” country made the order.

According to Israel’s Ambassador to Manila Ilan Fluss, the first of two LRPAs under order will arrive in the Philippines next year.

It is expected to expand the air force’s capabilities in monitoring the archipelago amid heightened tensions with China over the South China Sea.

Fluss did not say exactly when the second aircraft would be delivered.

‘Equipped With Comprehensive Mission Suite’

In last year’s announcement, Elbit said the LRPAs will be based on the new ATR 72-600 regional aircraft.

They will also be equipped with an advanced and comprehensive mission suite that includes a mission management system, electro-optics, radars, and signals intelligence systems.

There are other special systems to be integrated into the LRPAs, but defense officials in the Philippines have not provided specific details due to potential security concerns.

“This contract extends the range of platforms and solutions we offer our customers, leveraging vast operational experience and in-house technologies and capabilities,” Elbit Systems manager Yoram Shmuely said.

“We are proud to provide advanced solutions to our customers.”

The post Philippines to Receive Israeli-Made Long-Range Patrol Aircraft appeared first on The Defense Post.

Work for the contract will take place over five and a half years.

“The Iron Fist APS is an advanced Hard Kill system aimed at enhancing the self-defense capabilities of armored platforms against modern battlefield threats,” Elbit explained.

Iron Fist is the Israel Defense Force’s second-generation APS “characterized by high performance and low volume, weight and power requirements.”

It provides armored platforms with 360-degree protection from various anti-armor threats, including drones, loitering threats, anti-tank rockets, and anti-tank guided missiles.

“Following the contracts signed in recent years, we are honored to be awarded this important contract by BAE Systems Hägglunds for a European country,” Elbit Systems Land General Manager Yehuda (Udi) Vered said.

“Elbit Systems’ Iron Fist Active Protection Systems have once again been selected by an advanced military as an innovative solution to protect armored platforms and troops, assisting them in accomplishing their missions safely.”

The post Elbit to Supply Iron Fist APS to European Country in $130M Deal appeared first on The Defense Post.

A manufacturing facility will be established under the contract, with supply running through 10 years.

“We continue to expand our production infrastructure and capabilities to support our customers. I thank the [Israeli Ministry of Defense] for the trust placed in our management and employees,” Elbit Systems President and CEO Bezhalel (Butzi) Machlis said.

To Ensure Continuous Supply

It comes days after Elbit was contracted to provide Iron Sting mortar munition to the Israeli Ministry of Defense.

The 120mm laser and GPS-guided munition is already being used by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) in the ongoing war in Gaza and against the Hezbollah militant group along the northern border.

The procurement is part of Jerusalem’s strategy to secure a steady supply of critical ammunition for the IDF during the current and future operations, the Israeli Ministry of Defense said.

“This deal marks a significant milestone in the Ministry of Defense’s vision, initiated under Minister Yoav Galant’s guidance, to ensure the continuous advancement of the IDF’s operational capabilities,” Director General of the Israel Ministry of Defense, Maj. Gen. (Res.) Eyal Zamir said.

“We are committing millions to build and expand production lines, supporting our long-term objectives. Beyond addressing immediate security needs, this investment will stimulate the economy, create new jobs, and drive future growth in defense exports.”

Boycott Calls

According to Israeli business newspaper Calcalist, arms suppliers from several Western countries have informally stopped supplying weapons and raw materials to Israel.

It follows a group of United Nations experts warning companies supplying arms and ammunition to Israel could be treated as complicit in human rights abuses and violation of international laws.

Moreover, Israel’s prime arms supplier, the US, has also reportedly delayed ammunition shipments to the country.

The post Israel Secures Long-Term Ammo Production Amid Boycott Call appeared first on The Defense Post.

The Iron Sting is a laser and GPS-guided shell developed for precision strikes in complex environments, minimizing collateral damage to a target area.

The warhead is typically launched from 120-millimeter mortar for a range of up to 10 kilometers (6.2 miles).

It incorporates a multi-mode fuse with Point Detonation, Delay, and Proximity Sensor configurations and has a loading time of approximately 15 seconds, the company wrote.

The Iron Sting is among the standard mortar variants used across the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF), particularly with the service’s Infantry Corps “Hanit” and “Keshet.”

In 2021, the Israeli government first conceptualized the employment of the Iron Sting for its military.

Two years later, the IDF held its first operational use of the weapon following Hamas’ October 7 surprise attacks.

“Following the combat experience our cutting-edge guided mortar munition has accumulated, this contract further cements our position as a market leader in precision-guided solutions,” Elbit Systems Land General Manager Yehuda Vered stated.

“With the rise of military conflicts in urban environments, armed forces around the world demand accurate technologies that minimize collateral damage. Elbit Systems’ Iron Sting meets this critical need.”

Latest Israeli Projects

The Israeli Ministry of Defense signed a multi-year agreement in May to integrate new electrical systems aboard the IDF’s armored combat vehicles.

In February, defense contractors Raytheon and Rafael announced the construction of a Tamir missile factory in Arkansas to support Israel’s Iron Dome defense system as well as its American variant, SkyHunter.

A month earlier, state-owned Israel Aerospace Industries greenlighted the production of cybersecurity devices for the company’s loitering munitions.

Israel revealed a separate cyber project in 2023 to develop a digital version of the country’s Iron Dome weapon.

The post Israel Buys Iron Sting Munitions From Elbit Systems appeared first on The Defense Post.

Touted as the world’s first fully automatic artillery, the 155mm/52 caliber Elbit Systems gun is intended to be a replacement for hundreds of M109s in the Israeli Artillery Corps.

“The relevance and dominance of artillery fire are evident in warfare,” IDF’s chief artillery officer Brig, Gen. Yair Natans said.

“We have taken yet another significant step towards integrating the ‘Roem’ into the diverse firepower capabilities wielded by corps commanders to assist maneuvering forces — close and lethal support that eliminates many enemies and protects soldiers in various arenas,” he added.

“The ‘Roem’ is part of the reinforcement processes of all ground artillery systems, including rockets, missiles, and remotely piloted aircraft.”

More Advanced, Mobile

The wheeled system is more mobile than the tracked M109, with a greater firing range of up to 40 kilometers (25 miles).

According to The Judean, the gun’s European variant will have an even greater firing range of up to 80 kilometers (50 miles).

It features a modified Oshkosh 10×10 military truck chassis, including an armored cabin at the front for blast and mine protection.

Additional Features

The howitzer can transition from travel to fire mode in 60 seconds, and has a firing rate of eight rounds per minute.

The Roem is manned by a crew of three and is capable of “automatic loading and laying of the gun system, rapid in-and-out action times and high rate of fire,” according to Elbit.

Additionally, it can reportedly fire multiple shells sequentially at different trajectories for a salvo effect on a target.

The post Israel Fields ‘World’s First Fully Automatic’ 155mm Howitzer appeared first on The Defense Post.

The $53-million contract stipulated the Crossbow 120-millimeter soft recoil weapon, a solution unveiled in 2023 as part of Elbit’s mortar portfolio.

It was designed to integrate into 6×6 and 8×8 ground vehicles as well as other tracked platforms.

The Crossbow is offered with a 3-meter (9.8-foot) barrel with a maximum range of 10 kilometers (6.2 miles).

The mortar can fire bullets from the NATO-standard 120-millimeter shells in illuminant, explosive, or smoke configurations to the Iron Sting guided munition.

Crossbows can fire 360 degrees and up to 10 rounds per minute. In addition, users can integrate the weapon with four levels of armor protection.

For Pandur Personnel Carriers

According to Elbit, the deal supports General Dynamics’ ongoing project to mount armaments for the undisclosed customer’s Pandur 6×6 armored personnel carriers.

The company wrote that this is the first contract received for the Crossbow mortar since the system’s debut last year.

“We are proud to receive the first order from a leading international customer for our state-of-the-art Crossbow Unmanned Turreted Mortar System,” Elbit Systems Land General Manager Yehuda Vered remarked.

“The turreted mortar, with its precise guided round, reaffirms our commitment to developing and providing innovative and advanced land systems as solutions to the evolving needs of the modern battlefield.”

Military Vehicles for Austria

General Dynamics’ European Land Systems signed a contract in February to supply 225 Pandur 6×6 vehicles to Austria.

The order was facilitated under a 1.2-billion euro ($1.3 billion) framework the company had signed with Vienna in 2016.

Shipping will include eight different variants of the Pandur system, all of which will receive mortar combat systems, mobile air defense, and electronic warfare systems, according to the firm.

The post General Dynamics, Elbit to Deliver Unmanned Mortar Systems for European User appeared first on The Defense Post.

In a recent announcement, the Israeli firm said a foreign customer placed an order for two batteries of the short-range system for $50 million.

It has not provided specific details regarding the new customer, including the region.

However, Elbit said the contract will be executed over a period of two years.

The Red Sky under order will feature the company’s legacy ReDrone electronic warfare solution for detecting, identifying, locating, and neutralizing hostile drones.

It will also incorporate anti-aircraft missile launchers for a more accurate hit.

Protecting Strategic Assets

The Red Sky is described as a Tactical Very Short-Range Air Defense (VSHORAD) system, meaning it can only defend against low-altitude aerial threats.

Nonetheless, it offers a comprehensive solution to ensure both soft-kill and hard-kill defense capabilities.

It consists of a multi-mission tactical radar, a radio frequency jammer, signal intelligence sensors, and the COAPS-L electro-optical payload.

According to Elbit manager Yehuda Vered, the system represents a state-of-the-art solution for defending borders and protecting strategic assets against a wide array of aerial threats

“This new defense solution was created based on close collaboration between Elbit Systems’ divisions, utilizing existing Elbit Systems building blocks and integrating them into a comprehensive new solution with new anti-aircraft missiles and advanced soft-kill defense mechanisms,” he said.

The post Elbit Lands First Foreign Customer for Red Sky Air Defense System appeared first on The Defense Post.

Iron Fist is a “hard-kill” mounted capability providing enhanced self-defense for light utility to heavy armored vehicles against modern threats.

The weapon debuted in the early 2000s and is now serving as the Israel Defense Force’s second-generation active protection system.

The 360-degree system incorporates a radar sensor and infrared tracker to neutralize targets through a “very-near” contact approach, decreasing fragmentation effects and collateral damage in both open terrain and urban battlefields.

Assets the Iron Fist can counter include anti-tank rockets, guided missiles, aerial drones, and loitering munitions.

Work for the contract will be performed over two years.

Upgrading US IFV Fleet

According to Elbit, the recent agreement is part of General Dynamics’ ongoing project to upgrade the US Army IFVs for eight years.

This effort will integrate second-gen active protection systems for approximately nine Bradley brigades, or more than 1,200 vehicles.

“Our Iron Fist Active Protection Systems represent the highest level of innovation, offering comprehensive protection against evolving threats on the modern battlefield,” Elbit Systems Land General Manager Yehuda Vered commented on the contract signing.

“Through this strategic collaboration with [General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems], we are honored to contribute to the enhancement of the Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicles, further empowering the US armed forces with enhanced capabilities to fulfill their missions effectively and safely.”

Elbit secured a similar contract in 2023 to supply gunner hand stations for the US Army’s Bradley IFVs.

Deliveries for the contract will commence later this year.

Modernizing Bradleys

The US invested $154 million in January 2024 to outfit the army’s Bradley fleet with second-generation forward-looking infrared cameras.

In August 2023, the Pentagon selected BAE Systems to produce more than 70 Bradleys in its A4 variant. It served as a follow-on project for a 2022 deal seeking replacements for older IFVs.

In October 2022, BAE received another contract to sustain the operability of the army’s Bradley IFV and fire support team variants.

The post Elbit to Supply Iron Fist Protection Systems to US Army Bradleys appeared first on The Defense Post.

The Southeast Asian nation has reportedly submitted a shopping list of weapons to Jerusalem, which includes different types of missiles and sensors.

Israeli defense sources also said Manila wanted to procure advanced command-and-control systems and long-range radars to better monitor its territory.

The Philippines is no stranger to Israeli systems, as it operates 155-millimeter self-propelled howitzers made by Israeli defense giant Elbit Systems.

In 2021, the country also received 20 Sabrah Ascod light tanks and Pandur II armored personnel carriers from Jerusalem for territorial defense.

Tensions With China

Manila’s move comes as it faces increasing pressure from China over the South China Sea.

Beijing claims almost all of the waterway, including portions ruled by the international arbitral tribunal as belonging to the Philippines.

Tensions between the two countries have been exacerbated by a string of maritime clashes between Chinese vessels and Philippine boats.

In October 2023, a Chinese Coast Guard vessel carried out “dangerous” blocking maneuvers against a Philippine resupply boat, causing the two ships to collide.

Last month, another Chinese vessel used a powerful water cannon against Philippine boats, resulting in “heavy damages.”

The post Philippines Eyes More Israeli Weapons as China Tensions Grow appeared first on The Defense Post.