Elbit Systems

Elbit Systems is an Israeli international defense contractor and military-technology company. Its portfolio spans command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance; unmanned aircraft; electro-optics; electronic warfare; signals intelligence; military communications; artillery and armored-vehicle systems; night vision; avionics; and aerospace structures. The company supplies the Israel Defense Forces and defense organizations in North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, the Middle East, and Latin America, operating through subsidiaries, joint ventures, and locally incorporated businesses. The company originated in 1966 as Elbit Computers Ltd., established by Elron Electronic Industries with participation from Israel’s Ministry of Defense to develop computers and electronics for military use. Its early Elbit 100 minicomputer also found civilian applications, but during the late 1970s and 1980s the business increasingly concentrated on defense electronics. It developed equipment and subsystems associated with Israeli programs including the Lavi fighter and Merkava armored vehicle, while expanding from computing into avionics, fire control, communications, and battlefield systems. Elbit was reorganized into separate businesses in 1996. The defense-electronics business became Elbit Systems, which merged with El-Op in 2000. That combination created Israel’s largest nongovernmental defense-electronics group and brought together Elbit’s computing and systems expertise with El-Op’s electro-optical capabilities. Subsequent acquisitions and integrations added Elisra, portions of Israel Military Industries’ aircraft-systems activities, Mikal, Tadiran Communications, IMI Systems, Universal Avionics, Geospectrum Technologies, and other specialist businesses. Its best-known offerings include the Hermes family of unmanned aircraft, land-force command-and-control systems, Iron Fist active protection, advanced helmet-mounted displays, night-vision equipment, electronic-warfare suites, satellite communications, tactical radios, naval sonar, and avionics. Elbit also participates in major foreign defense programs, including the British Watchkeeper unmanned-aircraft program, UK military flight training, American helicopter and aircraft programs, Canadian naval sonar, and aerospace manufacturing. Elbit’s operations are closely associated with Israel’s defense establishment and with the use of Israeli military technology in active conflicts. This has made the company a focus of protests, divestment campaigns, and political criticism in several countries, particularly the United Kingdom, United States, and Germany. Reporting has also connected Elbit-produced or Elbit-operated unmanned systems with controversial military operations and civilian casualties. These issues coexist with the company’s role as a major industrial employer and exporter. A 2025 investor presentation cited approximately 20,000 employees worldwide, including about 3,200 in the United States. Elbit Systems is listed on both the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange and Nasdaq.

Elbit Systems began in 1966 as Elbit Computers Ltd., a venture formed by Elron Electronic Industries and Israel’s Ministry of Defense to create computing and electronic equipment for the Israeli military. Its first notable product was the Elbit 100 minicomputer, which was also marketed for civilian purposes. In 1970, Control Data Corporation agreed to acquire the Israeli government’s interest and helped distribute Elbit computers internationally. Elbit went public on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange in 1978. During the early 1980s it shifted decisively toward defense electronics, changing its name to Elbit Ltd. and developing systems for Israeli aircraft, armored vehicles, avionics, and battlefield applications. In 1996 the wider Elbit business was divided into three independent companies, including Elbit Systems as the defense-electronics arm. A defining turning point came in 2000, when Elbit Systems merged with El-Op. The transaction combined Elbit’s systems and computing capabilities with El-Op’s electro-optics expertise and created Israel’s largest nongovernmental defense-electronics company. Michael Federmann, who controlled El-Op, became the combined company’s leading shareholder and later chairman. Elron ultimately sold its remaining Elbit Systems interest in 2004. The company expanded through acquisitions and program integrations. These included Elisra, aircraft-systems assets of Israel Military Industries, Mikal, Tadiran Communications, Universal Avionics, Geospectrum Technologies, and the Harris night-vision business. In 2018 Elbit completed the acquisition of IMI Systems, strengthening its land-force, artillery, and armored-platform businesses. It also developed substantial overseas operations, especially in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Germany, and Australia. In the United Kingdom, Elbit established local businesses around the Watchkeeper unmanned-aircraft program, acquired Ferranti Technologies, operated Instro Precision, and participated in the Affinity military-flight-training joint venture. The company’s UK presence became a target of direct-action protests and divestment campaigns because of its links to Israeli military programs. Ferranti was sold in 2022, while Elbit continued to operate several UK businesses and opened a Bristol facility in 2023. Elbit’s products have been used by Israel and foreign militaries in active operations. This has produced commercial visibility but also sustained controversy. Investigations have discussed the use of Elbit-related unmanned systems in Gaza and other theaters, and the company has faced protests at facilities in the United Kingdom, United States, and Germany. The company remains an active, publicly traded defense group with operations across multiple continents and a portfolio centered on sensors, unmanned platforms, communications, electronic warfare, avionics, and integrated battlefield systems.

1. 2023Bristol facility opens

   Elbit opens an advanced manufacturing and development facility in Bristol, United Kingdom.

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2. 2019Iron Fist selected for Israeli platforms

   Israel’s Ministry of Defense selects Iron Fist for Eitan armored vehicles and D9 bulldozers.

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3. 2018IMI Systems acquisition completed

   Elbit completes its acquisition of IMI Systems.

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4. 2016Everysight is launched

   Elbit launches Everysight, a business developing augmented-reality glasses for cyclists.

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5. 2007Tadiran Communications acquisition

   Elbit completes the acquisition of Tadiran Communications, expanding military communications capabilities.

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6. 2000Merger with El-Op

   Elbit Systems merges with El-Op, combining defense systems and electro-optics.

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7. 1996Corporate separation

   Elbit is divided into three independent companies, including Elbit Systems as the defense-electronics business.

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8. 1978Initial public offering

   Elbit conducts an initial public offering on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange.

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9. 1970Control Data enters the business

   Control Data Corporation agrees to acquire the Israeli government’s interest and distribute Elbit computers internationally.

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10. 1966Elbit Computers is founded

    Elron Electronic Industries and Israel’s Ministry of Defense establish Elbit Computers Ltd. to develop military computers and electronics.

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A vertically integrated international defense-technology supplier with strong Israeli military-program experience and broad capabilities in sensors, unmanned systems, communications, electronic warfare, and land platforms.

• Hermes unmanned aircraft systemsUnmanned aircraft

  The Hermes family is a group of remotely piloted aircraft used for intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, communications support, and, depending on configuration and customer, other military missions. The family is one of Elbit’s most internationally recognizable product lines and is operated by Israel and foreign customers.

• Iron FistActive protection system

  Iron Fist is an active-protection system designed to detect and defeat incoming anti-armor threats before they strike a vehicle. It is intended for armored platforms and was selected for Israeli Eitan vehicles and D9 armored bulldozers.

• Watchkeeper WK450Unmanned aircraft system

  Watchkeeper is a British Army unmanned-aircraft program developed through the UAV Tactical Systems joint venture between Elbit and Thales. The WK450 combines an unmanned aircraft with ground-control, surveillance, and mission-support infrastructure produced in the United Kingdom.

• XACT night-vision systemsNight vision

  XACT is a family of lightweight night-vision and soldier-worn optical systems. Elbit’s UK subsidiary Instro Precision supplied XACT night-vision goggles to the British Armed Forces under contracts beginning in 2021.

• Helmet-mounted display systemsAvionics and electro-optics

  Elbit develops helmet-mounted displays and integrated aviation helmets that provide pilots with symbology, targeting information, and other mission data. The company has supplied such systems for military helicopter and aircraft programs, including US Army Apache applications.

• Tactical communications systemsMilitary communications

  Elbit produces tactical radios, secure communications, satellite-on-the-move equipment, and networked command systems for military users. These products support voice, data, battlefield networking, and mobile connectivity across land, air, and naval operations.

• TRAPS sonarNaval systems

  The Towed Reelable Active Passive Sonar system is a naval sensor developed through Elbit’s Canadian operations. GeoSpectrum delivered an initial version to the Royal Canadian Navy in 2018.

• 2021XACT night-vision supply program

  United Kingdom

  Instro Precision won a UK Ministry of Defence contract to supply XACT night-vision goggles, later followed by extensions.

  Outcome. Expanded Elbit’s soldier-equipment business with the British Armed Forces.

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• 2016Everysight augmented-reality launch

  International

  Elbit launched Everysight to develop augmented-reality smartglasses aimed initially at cyclists.

  Outcome. Expanded the group’s technology activity beyond conventional defense programs.

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• 2005Watchkeeper industrial program

  United Kingdom

  Elbit and Thales established UAV Tactical Systems to manufacture and support the Watchkeeper WK450 unmanned-aircraft program for the British Army, including local production and flight testing.

  Outcome. Created a substantial UK unmanned-systems presence.

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• 2022Sell Ferranti TechnologiesM&A

  Elbit faced sustained activism against its UK defense operations and reviewed its local business portfolio.

  What changed. Elbit sold Ferranti Technologies for £9 million.

  Aftermath. The divestment ended Elbit’s ownership of the Oldham-based business while the wider UK operation continued.

  Sale price. £9 million (2022)

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• 2019Iron Fist integration decisionProduct launch

  Israel’s Ministry of Defense sought an active-protection capability for new armored vehicles and heavy engineering platforms.

  What changed. The ministry selected Elbit’s Iron Fist for Eitan vehicles and D9 bulldozers.

  Aftermath. Iron Fist became a significant Israeli land-systems program and an important reference product for Elbit’s armored-vehicle business.

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• 2018Acquire IMI SystemsM&A

  Elbit pursued greater scale in land systems, artillery, armored platforms, and military manufacturing.

  What changed. Elbit completed the acquisition of IMI Systems.

  Aftermath. The transaction strengthened Elbit’s land-force and weapons-systems portfolio.

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• 2000Merge with El-OpM&A

  Elbit Systems sought to combine its defense-electronics and systems activities with El-Op’s established electro-optics business.

  What changed. The two companies merged, creating a larger integrated Israeli defense-electronics group.

  Aftermath. The combined company became Israel’s largest nongovernmental defense-electronics business and broadened its sensor and avionics portfolio.

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• 2024World Central Kitchen convoy attackControversy

  An Elbit Hermes 450 was reported as having been used during the attack on a marked World Central Kitchen aid convoy in Gaza, in which seven aid workers were killed. The incident generated international criticism and renewed debate over the use and accountability of Israeli-made unmanned systems.

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• 2016Drone-feed surveillance reportControversy

  The Intercept reported that NSA and GCHQ had monitored live feeds from Israeli drones and related equipment used in missions over Gaza, the West Bank, Syria, and Lebanon. The report increased scrutiny of Elbit’s role as a supplier of unmanned systems.

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• 2025Elbit offers Ontario drones for wildfire response

  Investigative reporting said Elbit offered Ontario drones for forest-fire monitoring and response.

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• 2023Elbit opens Bristol manufacturing and development facility

  The company opened an advanced manufacturing and development site in Bristol, expanding its United Kingdom industrial footprint.

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• 2022Elbit UK sells Ferranti Technologies

  Elbit sold its Ferranti subsidiary after years of activist opposition to the company’s local defense activities.

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• 2019Elbit Systems wins Iron Fist active-protection contract

  Israel’s Ministry of Defense selected Elbit to equip Eitan armored vehicles and D9 armored bulldozers with the Iron Fist active-protection system.

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• 2019Elbit Systems acquires Harris night-vision business

  Elbit agreed to acquire Harris Corporation’s night-vision business for $350 million, subject to the Harris–L3 merger.

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• 2018Elbit Systems completes acquisition of IMI Systems

  The company completed its acquisition of Israel Military Industries, expanding its land-systems, artillery, and defense-platform portfolio.

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1. Elbit Systems
2. Elbit Systems official website