 "Israel to begin local production of heavy bombs, reducing US dependence after shipment delay")
The Israeli Defence Ministry on Tuesday signed two significant deals with Elbit Systems, aimed at supplying the military with thousands of heavy bombs and establishing a new facility for manufacturing raw materials.
According to a Times of Israel report, the agreements, valued at approximately $275 million, are expected to reduce Israel’s reliance on the US, which in late spring held up a shipment of heavy bombs.
These deals are “crucial for enhancing the IDF’s operational endurance and force build-up capabilities” and reflect a “central lesson learned from the war,” reported Times of Israel, citing the defence ministry.
Under the first agreement, Elbit will provide thousands of heavy air munitions for the Israeli Air Force.
Since the war started, the Israeli Air Force has conducted over 83,000 airstrikes, according to the report, citing military.
Under the second agreement, Elbit will establish a “national raw materials plant” to produce materials that were primarily imported from abroad prior to the war.
““The new facility will feature advanced production lines for energetic materials that Israel’s defense industry uses,” the Times of Israel quoted the ministry as saying, adding that the project is expected to “strengthen domestic manufacturing independence and reduce reliance on imported raw materials.”
Defence Ministry Director General Eyal Zamir said the deals are “laying the foundations for expanding manufacturing independence in two critical areas for the IDF’s operational sustainability: domestic production of heavy air munitions and establishing a national raw materials plant.”
“Both agreements will ensure sovereign capability in producing bombs and munitions of all types,” he was quoted as saying by the ministry.
“We initiated this historic move before the war but accelerated it during it. Under both agreements, initial capabilities will soon gradually expand until we achieve full independence in both areas,” Zamir added.
Impact Shorts
More Shorts“This is a central lesson from the war that will enable the IDF to continue operating powerfully in all theaters,” he said.
According to the report, the defence ministry said in August that the US has supplied Israel with over 50,000 tons of armaments and military equipment since the onset of the war.
The aggression against Israel across the Middle East, described as a seven-front war, began with the Hamas massacre on October 7, 2023, when thousands of terrorists invaded from the Gaza Strip, resulting in around 1,200 deaths, mostly among civilians, and the kidnapping of 251 individuals.
In Gaza, intense fighting continues in the north, with Hamas demonstrating its capability to launch rockets at Israel even after nearly 15 months of conflict.
In Lebanon, a fragile ceasefire is in place as Israeli forces continue to uncover Hezbollah infrastructure in the southern region.
Over the past month, Houthi ballistic missiles from Yemen have repeatedly forced millions of Israelis to seek shelter during the night.
With inputs from agencies
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