AhlulBayt News Agency: The Israeli regime has signed a deal with local arms manufacturer Elbit Systems to produce bombs in a bid to wean itself off imports from the United States and Britain.
The war ministry said on Tuesday it had signed a deal worth around $275 million. "These strategic agreements are crucial for ... operational endurance and force build-up capabilities."
Israeli authorities see the need to reduce dependence on imports as "a central lesson" from the experience of the campaign of genocide in the Gaza Strip.
Under one agreement, Elbit will supply the Israeli military with thousands of heavy air munitions. The second deal would open a plant to produce raw materials previously sourced mainly from abroad.
The Israeli military did not specify what raw material was used but suggested that it had applications in munitions manufacturing.
"Today, we are laying the foundations for expanding manufacturing independence in two critical areas for the IOF's operational sustainability - domestic production of heavy air munitions and establishing a national raw materials plant," said Eyal Zamir, director general of the war ministry.
The plan to produce bombs domestically had been devised before October 7, 2023, Zamir said. However, he added, the war gave impetus to expedite plans to expand local manufacturing of weapons and munitions.
He said the plan is to manufacture all kinds of bombs and munitions presently supplied by the US and Britain.
"Both agreements will ensure sovereign capability in producing bombs and munitions of all types."
Our company is "committed to making a substantial contribution to strengthening the (Israeli regime forces') munitions independence," Elbit System's chief executive Bezhalel Machlis said.
Since the Israeli regime launched the ongoing war in Gaza in October 2023, certain Western governments have publicly expressed reservations about supplying arms to the regime. In 2024, US President Joe Biden temporarily stopped shipments of certain bombs.
It is still unclear whether US President-elect Donald Trump will continue to steadily supply American bombs and munitions to the Israeli regime.
Elbit Systems is the primary local supplier of the regime's land-based equipment and unmanned aerial vehicles. It also has subsidiary factories around the world and sells its products to various militaries.
At its subsidiary factories in the United Kingdom and the United States, Elbit Systems has faced protests for its support of the Israeli killing machine in Gaza.
Stock exchange shares of the Haifa-based military equipment manufacturer, which has been divested by international investment firms due to its involvement in the genocide, are traded on the Tel Aviv and NASDAQ markets.
/129
The war ministry said on Tuesday it had signed a deal worth around $275 million. "These strategic agreements are crucial for ... operational endurance and force build-up capabilities."
Israeli authorities see the need to reduce dependence on imports as "a central lesson" from the experience of the campaign of genocide in the Gaza Strip.
Under one agreement, Elbit will supply the Israeli military with thousands of heavy air munitions. The second deal would open a plant to produce raw materials previously sourced mainly from abroad.
The Israeli military did not specify what raw material was used but suggested that it had applications in munitions manufacturing.
"Today, we are laying the foundations for expanding manufacturing independence in two critical areas for the IOF's operational sustainability - domestic production of heavy air munitions and establishing a national raw materials plant," said Eyal Zamir, director general of the war ministry.
The plan to produce bombs domestically had been devised before October 7, 2023, Zamir said. However, he added, the war gave impetus to expedite plans to expand local manufacturing of weapons and munitions.
He said the plan is to manufacture all kinds of bombs and munitions presently supplied by the US and Britain.
"Both agreements will ensure sovereign capability in producing bombs and munitions of all types."
Our company is "committed to making a substantial contribution to strengthening the (Israeli regime forces') munitions independence," Elbit System's chief executive Bezhalel Machlis said.
Since the Israeli regime launched the ongoing war in Gaza in October 2023, certain Western governments have publicly expressed reservations about supplying arms to the regime. In 2024, US President Joe Biden temporarily stopped shipments of certain bombs.
It is still unclear whether US President-elect Donald Trump will continue to steadily supply American bombs and munitions to the Israeli regime.
Elbit Systems is the primary local supplier of the regime's land-based equipment and unmanned aerial vehicles. It also has subsidiary factories around the world and sells its products to various militaries.
At its subsidiary factories in the United Kingdom and the United States, Elbit Systems has faced protests for its support of the Israeli killing machine in Gaza.
Stock exchange shares of the Haifa-based military equipment manufacturer, which has been divested by international investment firms due to its involvement in the genocide, are traded on the Tel Aviv and NASDAQ markets.
/129