HAIFA, Israel, January 5, 2015 /PRNewswire/ --
Elbit Systems Ltd. (NASDAQ and
TASE:ESLT) ("Elbit Systems") announced today that
it was awarded an approximately $100
million contract from the Israeli Ministry of Defense (IMOD)
to procure six new firefighting aircraft and operate the
firefighting squadron, which will consist of a total of fourteen
aircraft, including eight aircraft previously procured by Elbit
Systems. The contract, to be performed over an eight-year period,
also covers flight hours, infrastructure upgrade, maintenance,
airstrip operation, handling of fire retardants and other aspects
of operating the squadron.
The firefighting aircraft, manufactured by Air Tractor, are
single-engine aircraft, capable of carrying approximately 3,000
liters of water and flying three hours without refueling.
Bezhalel (Butzi) Machlis, President and CEO of Elbit Systems
commented: "We are very proud to be selected for this opportunity
to harness our professional capabilities and vast experience to the
collective efforts of protecting Israel's residents and natural landscape".
The Elad firefighting squadron was founded four years ago
following the Mount Carmel forest fire and is named after
Elad Riben, the fire scout that was
killed in this fire. Since then, Elbit Systems has been cooperating
with the IAF, firefighting units, the Jewish National Fund and the
Israel Nature and Parks Authority in developing the squadron's
operational procedures and qualifying designated airstrips. The
aircraft will be flown by CHIM-NIR's pilots, the project's
subcontractor.
Since its inauguration in 2011, the firefighting squadron has
performed over 4,600 missions, accumulated over 2,500 flight hours
and has helped extinguish over 500 potentially destructive fires
across the country, providing a prompt and professional
solution.
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, 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.
For additional information, visit: http://www.elbitsystems.com
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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.
Elbit Systems Ltd, its logo, brand, product, service and process
names appearing in this Press Release are the trademarks or service
marks of Elbit Systems Ltd. or its affiliated companies. All other
brand, product, service and process names appearing are the
trademarks of their respective holders. Reference to or use
of a product, service or process other than those of Elbit Systems
Ltd. does not imply recommendation, approval, affiliation or
sponsorship of that product, service or process by Elbit Systems
Ltd. Nothing contained herein shall be construed as conferring by
implication, estoppel or otherwise any license or right under any
patent, copyright, trademark or other intellectual property right
of Elbit Systems Ltd. or any third party, except as expressly
granted herein.
Contacts:
Company
Contact:
Joseph Gaspar,
Executive VP & CFO
Tel: +972-4-8316663
j.gaspar@elbitsystems.com
Dalia Rosen, VP, Head
of Corporate Communications
Tel: +972-4-8316784
dalia.rosen@elbitsystems.com
Elbit Systems Ltd
IR Contact:
Ehud Helft
Kenny Green
GK Investor Relations
Tel: +1-646-201-9246
elbitsystems@gkir.com
SOURCE Elbit Systems Ltd