Elbit Awarded $100 Million Contract to Operate Firefighting Squadron

5 January, 2015

The contract, for 8 year period, also covers flight hours, infrastructure upgrade, maintenance and other aspects of operating the squadron that will be done by Elbit Systems

The contract, for 8 year period, also covers flight hours, infrastructure upgrade, maintenance and other aspects of operating the squadron that will be done by Elbit Systems

AIR TRACTOR

Elbit Systems Ltd. from Haifa, Israel,  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, for 8 year period, also covers flight hours, infrastructure upgrade, maintenance 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. 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 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.

Earlier this week the company announced that it was awarded an approximately $90 million contract from the Israeli Ministry of Defense (IMOD) for the maintenance of the Israeli Air Force’s (IAF) F-16 array’s avionics systems. The project, to be performed over 11 years, will include the establishment of a new and cutting edge national maintenance center for the IAF’s squadrons and bases.

Bezhalel Machlis, President and CEO of Elbit Systems, noted that Elbit Systems has recognized the growing global trend of maintenance and logistic support services performed via outsourcing. ‘This method of service provides availability of the relevant systems while saving costs and we have been active in these types of services both in Israel and around the world.”

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Posted in: Aerospace & Defense , News

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