HAIFA, Israel, April 15, 2010 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Elbit
Systems Ltd. (NASDAQ: ESLT) announced today that UAS Tactical
Systems Ltd. (U-TacS) - its Leicester-based joint company with
Thales UK,- has been awarded a $70
million contract by Thales UK to provide Contractor
Logistics Support (CLS) services for the Watchkeeper project to be
undertaken over the next three years.
(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080408/300441 )
The Watchkeeper project, one of the largest Unmanned Aircraft
Systems (UAS) projects in the world, is designed to provide the UK
armed forces with essential Intelligence, Surveillance, Target
Acquisition and Reconnaissance (ISTAR) capabilities. The project's
prime contractor is Thales UK. U-TacS is in charge of development,
integration, test flights and manufacture of the UAS' sub-systems,
including the unmanned aircraft, the ground control station, Elbit
Systems Electro-Optics Elop's D-CoMPASS(TM) payload and other
systems.
In conjunction with its role on the Watchkeeper project, U-TacS
also provides the Hermes(R) 450, under an Urgent Operational
Requirement (UOR) program, in which the UK armed forces operate
Hermes(R) 450 UAS to support its forces deployed in Afghanistan. Hermes(R) 450 UAS have flown more
than 30,000 operational hours in support of these ongoing
operations.
U-TacS is held 51% by Elbit Systems with the balance being owned
by Thales UK.
About Elbit Systems:
Elbit Systems Ltd. is an international defense electronics
company engaged in a wide range of programs throughout the world.
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, EW suites, airborne warning systems, ELINT systems, data
links and military 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.
This press release contains forward looking statements (within
the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended) regarding Elbit Systems Ltd. and/or its subsidiaries
(collectively the Company), to the extent such statements do not
relate to historical or current fact. Forward Looking Statements
are based on management's expectations, estimates, projections and
assumptions. Forward looking statements are made pursuant to the
safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform
Act of 1995, as amended. These statements are not guarantees of
future performance and involve certain risks and uncertainties,
which are difficult to predict. Therefore, actual future results,
performance and trends may differ materially from these forward
looking statements due to a variety of factors, including, without
limitation: scope and length of customer contracts; governmental
regulations and approvals; changes in governmental budgeting
priorities; general market, political and economic conditions in
the countries in which the Company operates or sells, including
Israel and the United States among others; differences in
anticipated and actual program performance, including the ability
to perform under long-term fixed-price contracts; and the outcome
of legal and/or regulatory proceedings. The factors listed above
are not all-inclusive, and further information is contained in
Elbit Systems Ltd.'s latest annual report on Form 20-F, which is on
file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. All forward
looking statements speak only as of the date of this release. The
Company does not undertake to update its forward-looking
statements.
For additional information, visit: http://www.elbitsystems.com.
Contacts:
Company Contact:
Joseph Gaspar, Executive VP & CFO
Dalia Rosen, VP & Head of Corporate Communications
Elbit Systems Ltd
Tel: +972-4-8316663
Fax: +972-4-8316944
E-mail: j.gaspar@elbitsystems.com
dalia.rosen@elbitsystems.com
IR Contact:
Ehud Helft / Kenny Green
CCG Investor Relations
Tel: 1-646-201-9246
E-mail:elbitsystems@ccgisrael.com
SOURCE Elbit Systems Ltd