Deal Between the Israeli Ministry of Defense and Elbit Systems for Purchasing Ammunition Worth 570 Million Shekels

SadaNews - The "Security Purchases Directorate" at the Israeli Ministry of Defense has concluded a deal to purchase aerial ammunition manufactured by "Elbit Systems" for 570 million shekels.

This deal is part of the policy established by the former Director General of the Ministry of Defense and current Chief of Staff of the Israeli Army, Eyal Zamir, which aims to expand Israeli industry and minimize dependence on foreign industries to the lowest possible level. This policy comes in the context of lessons learned from the genocide war on Gaza, during which countries and arms companies, including the United States, imposed a ban on arms sales to Israel, according to what the newspaper "The Marker" reported today, Tuesday.

"Elbit Systems" signed an agreement with the Ministry of Defense in October 2024 to establish a new bomb manufacturing plant after signing an agreement between both sides to supply the Israeli army with ammunition worth 1.5 billion shekels.

At the time, the Ministry of Defense described the deal as a "major pillar in the plan to enhance the independence of Israeli production and expand production lines in Israeli industries", as part of a policy to reduce reliance on foreign ammunition supplies, according to the newspaper.

The goal of establishing the new "Elbit" factory was to provide a solution to Israel's weapons supply problems, including delays in the provision of MK–84 and MK–82 bombs, manufactured by "General Dynamics" under instructions from the U.S. administration during various stages of the war on Gaza.

It is noteworthy that the MK–84 bomb weighs 900 kilograms and contains 430 kilograms of explosives, and the United States began producing it during the Vietnam War.

These bombs are used as warheads for various types of remotely guided bombs, including GBU–24 Paveway and GBU–10 Paveway laser rays, the electro-optical bomb GBU–15, "Spice 2000", JDAM bombs, and GBU, and are referred to in the Israeli Air Force as "Heavy Hail".