Elbit Systems

sold to:

Also Operates in:
Croatia, Belgium, Botswana, Ethiopia, Iceland, North Macedonia, Switzerland, France, Poland, Israel, Zambia

Main Products:

Military Aircraft and Helicopter Systems, Unmanned Aircraft Systems, Electro-Optic Systems, Night Vision Systems, Naval Systems, Munitions, Land Vehicle Systems, C4ISR, Cyber Systems, Intelligence and Surveillance Systems, Battle Management Systems, Electronic Warfare and Signal Intelligence Systems, Communication Systems, Command and Control Systems, Computer Systems

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Elbit Systems

General Information

Elbit Systems Ltd. is an Israel-based international defense electronics company engaged in a wide range of programs throughout the world. Elbit was founded in 1966 and is based in Haifa, Israel.

Elbit is the second biggest arms company in Israel and the biggest private arms company in Israel. Elbit’s biggest single customer is the Israeli Ministry of Defense (IMOD). Elbit’s revenue in 2018 stood at $3.7 Billion with a net income of $470 Million. In 2020 it was 4.6 Billion.[1]Elbit Systems Revenue 2010-2022 | ESLT.

The company, which includes Elbit Systems and its subsidiaries, operates in the areas of aerospace, land and naval systems, command, control, communications, computers, intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance (C4ISR), unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), advanced electro-optics, electro-optic space systems, electronic warfare suites, signal intelligence (SIGINT) systems, data links and communications systems and radios. The company also focuses on the upgrading of existing military platforms, developing new technologies for defense, homeland security and commercial aviation applications and providing a range of support services, including training and simulation systems.

Elbit provides up to 85% of the land-based equipment procured by the Israeli military and about 85% of its drones, but it is also a company with international reach – 80% of its market is outside Israel. The company has military contracts with governments in the US, UK and Europe, Africa, Asia and South America. It manufactures most of its equipment in Israel, the US, Europe and Brazil.

Elbit’s supply of products and services to the Israeli military, ministry of interior and police is extensive and spreads across varying fields. For example, in May 2017, Elbit won a tender to supply the Israeli Ministry of Defense with its ELSAT 2100, a communication system that can be installed on moving vehicles and systems. In 2015, the company secured an 11-year contract worth 90 million USD for the maintenance of the Israeli army’s F-16 Jets. In the same year, Elbit won a Ministry of Interior and Israel Police tender worth 115 million USD; the 10-year contract was for the purchase of 6 Airbus Helicopters for the Israeli police and providing maintenance services. The company has been one of the main providers of the electronic detection fence system to the Apartheid Wall in the occupied West Bank.

The heavy reliance of the Israeli army on Elbit products serves as a marketing tool for Elbit. The company markets its products as ‘battle-tested’ and claims “outstanding capabilities” based on “operational experience gained through tens of thousands of operational sortied by the IDF”.[2]Elbit Systems Official Website In the month of July 2014 alone, during the peak of the assault on Gaza, Elbit’s profits increased by 6.1%, the highest level of increase since 2010.[3]Who Profits – Elbit Report

Portfolio

Major Customers of Elbit are the Israeli Ministry of Defense (accounted for 13% in 2018, 15% in 2019 and 21% in 2020) and the US government (22% in 2020).[4]Elbit Systems Form 20-F

Military Aircraft and Helicopter Systems

Includes a range of advanced avionics systems, electro-optic and aerial reconnaissance systems, precision guidance attack systems, fighter aircraft structural components, training systems and simulators.

Customers include: Israeli Air Force, US Military, NATO, EU members, as well as many other countries around the world. Also other manufacturers are included: Lockheed Martin, Boeing, Raytheon, Embraer, EADS, Bombardier, BAE Systems and many more.[5]Elbit Systems United States Securities and Exchange Commission 2010 : Page 18

Electro-Optic Systems

Thermal Imaging Systems and Products, Laser Based Systems, Countermeasure Systems, ISR systems, Space Cameras, Infrared Sensors,

Customers include: Israeli Army, Israel Space Agency, USMC, USN, armed forces of many other countries, as well as major military contractors such as Lockheed Martin.[6]Elbit Systems United States Securities and Exchange Commission 2010 : Page 32

Control and Surveillance Systems

Includes integrated land, maritime and coastal control and surveillance systems, airport and seaport security systems, border control systems, “safe city” systems, access and border registration control systems, C41 security applications, electronic fences, electro-optic surveillance systems, tactical mini-UAS and communications systems.

Customers include: Israeli police, Israeli Ministry of Transportation, IMOD, US Department of Homeland Security, commercial airports in Europe and Africa, Border and Security forces in Europa and Asia and many more. Elbit is engaged in several electronic deterrence projects for the Israeli government. They developed and supplied the Israeli police with Israel’s Border Control Management System.[7]Elbit Systems United States Securities and Exchange Commission 2010

EW and Sigint Systems

Includes a range of multi-spectral self-protection suites and systems for airborne platforms.

Customers include the Israeli Military, the armed forces of other countries (For Example Canada, South Korea).[8]Elbit Systems United States Securities and Exchange Commission 2010

Drones / UAS (Unmanned Aircraft Systems)

Includes air frames, air vehicle payloads, data link, ground control systems, ground support equipment and training systems of: Hermes UAS Family, Skylark UAS Family.

Hermes Customers include: the Israeli Army, the UK Armed Forces and other countries such as the Armed Forces of Colombia, Mexico, Philippines, India, Azerbaijan, Chile and many more.

Skylark Customers include: the Israeli Army and other countries such as France, Kazakhstan, Myanmar, Philippines, Australia, South Korea and many more.

About 85% of drones used by the Israeli military are manufactured by Elbit.[9]Elbit Systems’ Hermes 900 UAV Headed to a Fifth Country Elbit’s armed drones were used by the Israeli army in daily surveillance and attacks in Gaza.

One of Elbit’s most famous UAVs is the Skylark – an intelligence gathering drone, operational in the Israeli army since 2008 – which is used during military operations of house arrest in the occupied West Bank. The Skylark was used during the so-called “Brothers come home” Israeli attacks in June and July 2014, where scores of Palestinian civilians were arbitrarily arrested. During Israel’s deadly attack on Gaza in 2014, Elbit’s 7.5 Skylark, as well as its lethal UAV, the  Hermes  900, were used.[10]Secret Israeli Report Reveals Armed Drone Killed Four Boys Playing on Gaza Beach in 2014

Elbit provided Hermes 450 drones to the Israeli Army, which has been fully operational since the year 2000.

Elbit Hermes drones were used widely in Israeli military operations in the West Bank, in Gaza and in other areas. In July 2022 the Israeli military confirmed that the Hermes was used to attack targets as part of its operational activities.[11]Israel’s military admits to using attack drones

Elbit’s Hermes drones were used to attack people in Gaza during Israel’s 2009 Operation Cast Lead attack.[12]Precisely Wrong Gaza Civilians Killed by Israeli Drone-Launched Missiles

In effect, Elbit markets its equipment with the fact that it has been battle tested on people in Gaza. For example, the Elbit website advertises the Hermes 450 drone as “combat proven” and the “primary platform of the IDF in counter-terror operations”.[13]Elbit Systems Hermes™ 450 [14]Killer Drones : UK complicity in Israel’s Crimes against the Palestinian People Accordingly, drones provided by Elbit and other companies have been used by the Israeli military to carry out assassinations in Sudan and Egypt at times when Israel was not officially ‘at war’ with those countries. They have also been used to spy on people in Iraq, Iran and Lebanon.[15]ELBIT SYSTEMS: COMPANY PROFILE

Naval Systems

Include naval combat and C41 management systems, shipboard combat system integration, naval electro-optic observation systems, tactical trainers, submarine and surface electronic support, SIGINT systems and unmanned surface vessels.

Elbit’s naval systems inlude the supply of C41 systems for the Israeli Navy (Sa’ar 5 corvettes). Also Elbit’s naval training simulators are used by the Israeli Navy and several other navies around the world. ELINT systems are supplied for the Israeli Navy’s Dolphin class submarine. Elbit’s EW suits equip all Israeli Navy ships.[16]Elbit Systems United States Securities and Exchange Commission 2010 : Page 25

Land Vehicle Systems

Includes fire control systems, electric gun and turret systems, unmanned turrets, overhead remote control weapon stations, battle management systems, FLIRs, laser range finders, reconnaisance systems and more.

Customers include: Israeli Army, US Army, USMC, armed forces of NATO and EU members, and other countries, as well as major military vehicle manufacturers such as General Dynamics, BAE Systems, Lockheed Martin, Patria, Mowag, Steyr and Iveco.[17]Elbit Systems United States Securities and Exchange Commission 2010 : Page 26

C41 Systems

Include Battle Management Systems (BMS), Integrated Infantry Combat Systems, Artillery C41 Systems, MapCore softwares, Military IT systems, Sattelite on the Move Systems, Radio and Communications Systems, TMRs and more.

Customers include the Israeli Army, the US Army, the UMSC and ground forces and governmental agencies of many other countries. In 2004 Elbit was selected by the IMOD to be the prime contractor for the Israel Digital Army Program (DAP) where they supplied the army with computerized systems down to the single soldier level. Other programs of Elbit for the Israeli army included the Digital Infantry Soldier program,  the TORC2H border protection software, BMS for Battalion Combat teams and development of the Israeli Army’s new generation tactical radio system.

Cyberbit

In December 2017, Citizenlab published a detailed report that showed that Ethiopian dissidents and journalists in the US, UK, and other countries were targeted by sophisticated commercial spyware, sold and operated by Cyberbit, a wholly owned subsidiary of Elbit Systems. In a reply to an inquiry from Human Rights Watch on the topic, Cyberbit did not deny selling this kind of technology, and rejected the responsibility of its possible misuse of its customers.[18]Champing at the Cyberbit Ethiopian Dissidents Targeted with New Commercial Spyware [19]Cyberbit Solutions Response to Human Rights Watch According to CitizenLab, Cyberbit provided demonstrations of PSS to the Royal Thai Army, Uzbekistan’s National Security Service, Zambia’s Financial Intelligence Centre, the Philippine President’s Malacañang Palace, ISS World Europe 2017 in Prague, and Milipol 2017 in Paris. Cyberbit also appears to have provided other demos of PSS in France, Vietnam, Kazakhstan, Rwanda, Serbia, and Nigeria.[20]Champing at the Cyberbit Ethiopian Dissidents Targeted with New Commercial Spyware [21]Cyberbit Solutions Response to Human Rights Watch 

IMI

In 2018 Elbit’s purchase of IMI (Israeli Military Industries) was approved. IMI was the sole supplier of small calibre ammunition to the Israeli Military.

Border Militarization

Elbit built surveillance sensors for Israel’s separation barrier through the West Bank, which has been deemed illegal under international law, as well as around the Gaza Strip and on the northern border with Lebanon and Syria.[22]THE U.S. BORDER PATROL AND AN ISRAELI MILITARY CONTRACTOR ARE PUTTING A NATIVE AMERICAN RESERVATION UNDER “PERSISTENT SURVEILLANCE”

Elbit was involved in the construction of an extra hi-tech barrier around the Gaza Strip that was completed in 2021. The wall, described by Israel as an “Iron Wall” is equipped with underground sensors, radars, cameras and other surveillance technologies.[23]Israel Completes ‘Iron Wall’ Barrier on Gaza Border

In 2014 Elbit Systems secured a $145m contract with the US government to install intergrated fixed towers at the US-Mexico border as part of the Customs and Border Protection plan of the US Congress.[24]Israeli arms maker wins “unprecedented” contract at US-Mexico border The contract is worth up to $239m through October 2022.[25]Just Future Laws : Factsheet – The Dangers of a Tech Wall

Elbit’s drones patrol the Mediterranean Sea as part of the European Union’s bid to seal off access to migrants from North Africa, and it has provided its technologies to militaries in Australia, Africa, Asia, Central America, and South America.

In July 2022 Elbit announced that it was awarded a $600 million contract to provide intelligence systems for a country in Europe

Subsidiaries / Acquisitions / Fundings

Major shareholders of Elbit are: Federmann Enterprises Ltd. (45.8%), Heris Asktiengesellschaft (8.97%), all 26 executive directors (0.01%). Other major investors are Psagot Investment House, FMR, Invesco, Gilder Gagnon Howe & Co, Renaissance Technologies, Altshuler Shaham, Delek Group, Vanguard Group and Deutsche Bank. The Canadian Public Sector Pension Investment Board, the Bank of Montreal and Royal Bank of Canada also hold shares.

Elbit is growing fast. It has absorbed dozens of companies since the year 2000, presiding over a considerable global network of over 80 subsidiaries and affiliated corporations.

Israeli subsidiaries: Elbit Systems Electro-Optic Elop Ltd., Elbit Systems Land and C4I Ltd., Elbit Systems EW and SIGINT – Elisra Ltd., Elbit Systems CyberBit, BrightWay Vision, Sigmabit, Cyclone, Opgal, Kinetics, ITL Optronics, SCD (50%), Tor (50%)

US Subsidiaries: Elbit Systems of America, Merrimack Operations (Kollsman Inc), EFW, KMC Systems, Fort Worth Operations, International Enterprises, Talladega Operations (IEI), Mclean Operations (ICI), San Antonio Operations (M7), M7 Aerospace, Real Time Laboratories, Boca Raton Operations, VSI and RCEVS.

Elbit Systems of America and its subsidiaries have operational facilities in Fort Worth, Texas, San Antonio, Texas, Merrimack, New Hampshire, Talladega, Alabama, Roanoke, Virginia and Boca Raton, Florida. The Roanoke, Virginia facility includes the activities of Elbit Systems of America – Night Vision, which was acquired by Elbit Systems of America in September 2019. Elbit Systems of America also has a 50% interest in a joint venture with Collins Aerospace, a unit of United Technologies Corp., which is engaged in the area of helmet mounted display systems for fixed-wing military and para-military aircraft.

Elbit Systems of America (ESA), wholly owned by Elbit, is a contractor for the US Foreign Military Sales Programme and has a special security arrangement with the US Department of Defense allowing them access to classified data.

European subsidiaries: Elbit Belgium, Telefunken Racoms (Germany). Elbit Austria, Elbit Romania.

UK subsidiaries: UAV Engines (UEL), Ferranti Technologies, Elite KL, Instro Precision, UTacS.

Other Subsidiaries: GeoSpectrum Technologies (Canada), Elbit Systems of Australia, Halbit (India), SESA (South Korea), Ares (Brazil), AEL (Brazil)

The company manufactures and assembles its systems and products at its operational facilities in Israel, the US, Europe, Brazil, India and Australia. In April 2018, the company opened an office in Germany.

Elbit also opened an office in Berlin in 2018[26]Elbit Systems Strengthens its Presence in the German Market, Opens Office in Berlinand bought the US company Universal Avionics Systems, which has three premises in the US and one office in Switzerland.

Acquisitions:

Between 2010-2020 Elbit purchased Israeli arms companies IMI, NICE Systems, Tadiran, Elisra and Soltam Systems.

Israel Military Industries (IMI): In January 2018, the Israeli government approved the sale of its wholly owned weapons company, the Israeli Military Industries Ltd. (IMI) to Elbit. The $515 million deal was finalized in November 2018. Established in 1993, IMI was involved in the manufacturing of a range of weapons, munitions and military technology for the Israeli army. The company’s products were and are used by the Israeli army and exported internationally to 70 militaries and government agencies around the world.[27]Elbit Systems Completes the Acquisition of IMI Systems It has a workforce of over 3,000 people and sold $330 million of weapons to the Israeli army in 2016.

 

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For more information about the company’s involvement in the Israeli occupation, you may visit Who Profits.

More information about the company and its financial profile, as well as investors, can be found at Investigate.

References
1 Elbit Systems Revenue 2010-2022 | ESLT.
2 Elbit Systems Official Website
3 Who Profits – Elbit Report
4 Elbit Systems Form 20-F
5 Elbit Systems United States Securities and Exchange Commission 2010 : Page 18
6 Elbit Systems United States Securities and Exchange Commission 2010 : Page 32
7 Elbit Systems United States Securities and Exchange Commission 2010
8 Elbit Systems United States Securities and Exchange Commission 2010
9 Elbit Systems’ Hermes 900 UAV Headed to a Fifth Country
10 Secret Israeli Report Reveals Armed Drone Killed Four Boys Playing on Gaza Beach in 2014
11 Israel’s military admits to using attack drones
12 Precisely Wrong Gaza Civilians Killed by Israeli Drone-Launched Missiles
13 Elbit Systems Hermes™ 450
14 Killer Drones : UK complicity in Israel’s Crimes against the Palestinian People
15 ELBIT SYSTEMS: COMPANY PROFILE
16 Elbit Systems United States Securities and Exchange Commission 2010 : Page 25
17 Elbit Systems United States Securities and Exchange Commission 2010 : Page 26
18 Champing at the Cyberbit Ethiopian Dissidents Targeted with New Commercial Spyware
19 Cyberbit Solutions Response to Human Rights Watch
20 Champing at the Cyberbit Ethiopian Dissidents Targeted with New Commercial Spyware
21 Cyberbit Solutions Response to Human Rights Watch
22 THE U.S. BORDER PATROL AND AN ISRAELI MILITARY CONTRACTOR ARE PUTTING A NATIVE AMERICAN RESERVATION UNDER “PERSISTENT SURVEILLANCE”
23 Israel Completes ‘Iron Wall’ Barrier on Gaza Border
24 Israeli arms maker wins “unprecedented” contract at US-Mexico border
25 Just Future Laws : Factsheet – The Dangers of a Tech Wall
26 Elbit Systems Strengthens its Presence in the German Market, Opens Office in Berlin
27 Elbit Systems Completes the Acquisition of IMI Systems