Elbit to Deliver New Generation Airborne Munitions as Israel Faces Foreign Arms Export Restrictions
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According to information published by Elbit Systems on 11 August 2025, the company has signed two contracts worth a combined USD 260 million (EUR 224 million) with the Israeli Ministry of Defense for the supply of advanced airborne munitions. The deal comes as Israel faces increasing restrictions on foreign arms sales, with several countries, including Germany, suspending or limiting new defense export approvals over the ongoing conflict in Gaza. These measures have reinforced the Ministry’s push to source critical weapon systems from domestic manufacturers, ensuring supply chain security and operational readiness.Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link
The Rampage is a supersonic air-to-ground missile with a range exceeding 150 km, designed for stand-off strikes against high-value targets while evading enemy air defenses (Picture source: Elbit).
Elbit’s President and CEO, Bezhalel (Butzi) Machlis, emphasized that the munitions in this latest deal are newly developed products engineered to meet the evolving operational needs of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). He highlighted their potential appeal to international customers seeking advanced air-to-surface capabilities. The decision to manufacture these systems entirely in Israel will reinforce the country’s defense industrial base, ensure shorter supply chains, and support rapid replenishment during periods of high operational tempo.
Based on Elbit’s existing inventory and the operational requirements of the IDF, the new contracts may involve upgraded versions of the Delilah cruise missile and the Rampage missile. The Delilah features a range of approximately 250 kilometers, GPS/INS navigation, an electro-optical terminal seeker for pinpoint accuracy, and the ability to loiter before striking, making it ideal for engaging mobile or time-sensitive targets. The Rampage missile, developed jointly with Israel Aerospace Industries, is a 4.7-meter-long, solid-fuel, supersonic weapon optimized for the destruction of high-value strategic targets such as radar sites, command centers, and fortified infrastructure. It can reach speeds exceeding Mach 1.5 and is designed for high survivability against enemy air defenses due to its stand-off launch profile. In addition, guidance kits such as the Lizard (laser-guided) and REST (GPS-aided) could be part of the package, providing a cost-effective means of converting standard Mk 80 series bombs into precision-guided munitions. If integrated, the GATR rocket system would enhance close air support capability with a precision strike range of 8 kilometers while reducing collateral damage risk in urban combat environments.
This announcement comes at a time when Israel’s defense procurement landscape is facing significant geopolitical headwinds. On 6 August 2025, the German government formally suspended approvals for all new arms exports to Israel, citing humanitarian concerns related to the ongoing conflict in Gaza. While deliveries under previously approved contracts will continue, the freeze affects a wide range of defense categories, from naval components to aerospace subsystems, and could delay modernization programs that rely on German-manufactured parts. Germany has historically been a major supplier of defense technology to Israel, particularly in the naval sector with the Dolphin-class submarines and Sa’ar 6 corvettes. The suspension, combined with increasing scrutiny from other European suppliers, reinforces Israel’s strategic need to secure domestic production of critical weapon systems. By ensuring that the munitions covered under this new Elbit contract are developed, manufactured, and tested entirely in Israel, the Ministry of Defense is insulating the IDF from potential disruptions in foreign supply chains and safeguarding operational readiness in the face of shifting diplomatic pressures.
Despite the tightening of export policies in Europe and other regions, the United States has maintained its arms supply commitments to Israel. Washington continues to approve deliveries under existing contracts, including precision-guided munitions, advanced aircraft systems, and missile defense components. The U.S. remains Israel’s largest defense partner, providing both Foreign Military Financing and direct commercial sales, ensuring that key modernization programs for the Israel Defense Forces remain on track. This ongoing support offsets some of the impact of European restrictions, but also underscores the importance of Israel’s parallel investment in domestically produced systems like those covered under the new Elbit contract.
The contract also aligns with the IDF’s broader effort to expand its precision strike capabilities in response to emerging regional threats and the need for faster, more flexible air-delivered effects. In recent years, the Israel Ministry of Defense has placed significant emphasis on integrating longer-range, multi-role, and stand-off munitions to counter adversary air defense networks and hardened targets. Elbit’s ongoing investment in munitions technology aligns with these priorities, offering weapon systems compatible with a wide range of fighter aircraft and unmanned platforms.
The deal strengthens Elbit’s position in the global defense market, where demand for advanced airborne munitions is rising due to conflicts in Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and other regions. The company has already secured export contracts for its Rampage and Delilah missiles, with several NATO and allied air forces evaluating these systems for integration. With the latest contract’s focus on newly developed products, Elbit appears positioned to introduce next-generation capabilities that combine precision, range, and reduced logistical footprint.
By securing this major order, Elbit not only reinforces the IDF’s air power readiness but also showcases Israel’s continued leadership in the development of advanced precision munitions that can be tailored for both national defense and foreign military sales.
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According to information published by Elbit Systems on 11 August 2025, the company has signed two contracts worth a combined USD 260 million (EUR 224 million) with the Israeli Ministry of Defense for the supply of advanced airborne munitions. The deal comes as Israel faces increasing restrictions on foreign arms sales, with several countries, including Germany, suspending or limiting new defense export approvals over the ongoing conflict in Gaza. These measures have reinforced the Ministry’s push to source critical weapon systems from domestic manufacturers, ensuring supply chain security and operational readiness.
Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link
The Rampage is a supersonic air-to-ground missile with a range exceeding 150 km, designed for stand-off strikes against high-value targets while evading enemy air defenses (Picture source: Elbit).
Elbit’s President and CEO, Bezhalel (Butzi) Machlis, emphasized that the munitions in this latest deal are newly developed products engineered to meet the evolving operational needs of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). He highlighted their potential appeal to international customers seeking advanced air-to-surface capabilities. The decision to manufacture these systems entirely in Israel will reinforce the country’s defense industrial base, ensure shorter supply chains, and support rapid replenishment during periods of high operational tempo.
Based on Elbit’s existing inventory and the operational requirements of the IDF, the new contracts may involve upgraded versions of the Delilah cruise missile and the Rampage missile. The Delilah features a range of approximately 250 kilometers, GPS/INS navigation, an electro-optical terminal seeker for pinpoint accuracy, and the ability to loiter before striking, making it ideal for engaging mobile or time-sensitive targets. The Rampage missile, developed jointly with Israel Aerospace Industries, is a 4.7-meter-long, solid-fuel, supersonic weapon optimized for the destruction of high-value strategic targets such as radar sites, command centers, and fortified infrastructure. It can reach speeds exceeding Mach 1.5 and is designed for high survivability against enemy air defenses due to its stand-off launch profile. In addition, guidance kits such as the Lizard (laser-guided) and REST (GPS-aided) could be part of the package, providing a cost-effective means of converting standard Mk 80 series bombs into precision-guided munitions. If integrated, the GATR rocket system would enhance close air support capability with a precision strike range of 8 kilometers while reducing collateral damage risk in urban combat environments.
This announcement comes at a time when Israel’s defense procurement landscape is facing significant geopolitical headwinds. On 6 August 2025, the German government formally suspended approvals for all new arms exports to Israel, citing humanitarian concerns related to the ongoing conflict in Gaza. While deliveries under previously approved contracts will continue, the freeze affects a wide range of defense categories, from naval components to aerospace subsystems, and could delay modernization programs that rely on German-manufactured parts. Germany has historically been a major supplier of defense technology to Israel, particularly in the naval sector with the Dolphin-class submarines and Sa’ar 6 corvettes. The suspension, combined with increasing scrutiny from other European suppliers, reinforces Israel’s strategic need to secure domestic production of critical weapon systems. By ensuring that the munitions covered under this new Elbit contract are developed, manufactured, and tested entirely in Israel, the Ministry of Defense is insulating the IDF from potential disruptions in foreign supply chains and safeguarding operational readiness in the face of shifting diplomatic pressures.
Despite the tightening of export policies in Europe and other regions, the United States has maintained its arms supply commitments to Israel. Washington continues to approve deliveries under existing contracts, including precision-guided munitions, advanced aircraft systems, and missile defense components. The U.S. remains Israel’s largest defense partner, providing both Foreign Military Financing and direct commercial sales, ensuring that key modernization programs for the Israel Defense Forces remain on track. This ongoing support offsets some of the impact of European restrictions, but also underscores the importance of Israel’s parallel investment in domestically produced systems like those covered under the new Elbit contract.
The contract also aligns with the IDF’s broader effort to expand its precision strike capabilities in response to emerging regional threats and the need for faster, more flexible air-delivered effects. In recent years, the Israel Ministry of Defense has placed significant emphasis on integrating longer-range, multi-role, and stand-off munitions to counter adversary air defense networks and hardened targets. Elbit’s ongoing investment in munitions technology aligns with these priorities, offering weapon systems compatible with a wide range of fighter aircraft and unmanned platforms.
The deal strengthens Elbit’s position in the global defense market, where demand for advanced airborne munitions is rising due to conflicts in Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and other regions. The company has already secured export contracts for its Rampage and Delilah missiles, with several NATO and allied air forces evaluating these systems for integration. With the latest contract’s focus on newly developed products, Elbit appears positioned to introduce next-generation capabilities that combine precision, range, and reduced logistical footprint.
By securing this major order, Elbit not only reinforces the IDF’s air power readiness but also showcases Israel’s continued leadership in the development of advanced precision munitions that can be tailored for both national defense and foreign military sales.
