Elbit Systems Ltd. is an Israel-based international military technology company and defense contractor. Founded in 1966 by Elron, Elbit Systems is the primary provider of the Israeli military's land-based equipment and unmanned aerial vehicles. It is an important company within the defense industry of Israel.
Elbit Systems also has subsidiary factories around the world, and sells its products to various countries' militaries. At its subsidiary factories, especially in the United Kingdom, the United States and Germany, the company has faced protests for its support of the Israeli military in the ongoing Israeli–Palestinian conflict. The company has also been divested from by international investment firms due to its involvement in the conflict.
In a 2025 investor relations presentation, Elbit Systems reported having 20,000 employees, with 3,200 of them based in the United States. Elbit Systems' shares are traded on the Tel Aviv and Nasdaq stock exchanges.
History Elbit Systems was founded in 1966 by Elron Electronic Industries and the Israel's Ministry of Defense, under the name 'Elbit Computers Ltd.', to develop computers and electronics for the Israeli military, its first product was a minicomputer named ''.Computers and Automation. USA. November 1, 1968. p. 58. Retrieved 2025-02-03. ELBIT COMPUTERS LTD. HAS MOVED UP TO THE NUMBER TWO SPOT AMONG SMALL COMPUTER MANUFACTURERS ON THE CONTINENT, with the receipt of their 45th order for an Elbit 100 computer (first released early in 1968).Computers and Automation : Computer Census 1962-74. January 15, 1968. p. 115. Retrieved February 3, 2025. The minicomputer was successfully sold for civilian use, and in July 1970 the American company Control Data Corporation entered into an agreement to acquire the Israeli government's interest in Elbit Computers for US$1 million. Control Data Corporation marketed and distributed Elbit Computers' around the world.
In 1978 Elbit had an initial public offering on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange and continued to develop minicomputers, including a model called ANAT, that was developed and sold in corporation with German company Nixdorf Computer. During the early 1980s the company refocused on defense electronics and developed systems and sub-components for the Lavi fighter jet and for the Merkava tank. The company also changed its name from 'Elbit Computers Ltd.' to 'Elbit Ltd.' and Control Data Corporation sold its stake in the company.
In 1996, Elbit was spun off into three independent companies: Elbit Medical Imaging, Elbit Systems, and Elbit. From 1999 to 2000, Elscint (another affiliate of Elron) and Elbit Medical Imaging sold their imaging activities to General Electric Medical Systems and Picker. Elbit Systems was created as the defense electronics arm of the company. Elbit, which focused on communications activities, led the consortium that founded Partner Communications Company in 1999.
In 2000, Elbit Systems merged with El-Op (then controlled by current Elbit chairman, Michael Federmann), creating the largest non-governmental defense electronics company in Israel. Elron sold its shares in Elbit Systems for approximately $197 million in 2004. Following the merger with El-Op, Federmann became the largest shareholder of the combined group. Following its merger, Elbit acquired Elisra, assets of Israel Military Industries' Aircraft Systems Division, and Mikal Ltd.The company initially purchased 19% of the firm, and later agreed to acquire Mikal's 100% holdings in Soltam Systems, Saymar, and the 87.85% portion of ITL held by Mikal; in exchange, Mikal's owners received the 19% of Mikal that Elbit had purchased. Elbit subsequently announced a cash tender offer for the 12.15% remainder of ITL Optronics Ltd held by the public.
In 2002, Elbit was merged into Elron.
In 2006, Elbit acquired 20% of Chip PC Technologies, a developer and manufacturer of client solutions for server-based computing.Elbit Systems acquired an approximately 20% interest (18.5% plus a loan convertible into additional shares) in Chip PC Ltd. ESLT filed May 28, 2008 In 2016, Elbit launched Everysight, a developer and manufacturer of an augmented reality smartglasses for cyclists, founded in 2016.
In 2016, The Intercept reported that, starting in 2008, the US National Security Agency and UK GCHQ had been tapping into live feeds from Elbit drones (among other Israeli air force equipment) as they were flown on missions by the Israeli military and air force against targets in Gaza, the West Bank, Syria, and Lebanon.
In November 2018, Elbit completed its acquisition of IMI Systems.
Products
Elbit Systems and its various subsidiaries provide various technologies for military command, control, communications, intelligence surveillance, and reconnaissance purposes. The company produces unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), electro-optics hardware, electronic warfare, signal intelligence (SIGINT) systems, and radio and communications products.
Global operations
Elbit does business globally. According to its 2026 investor presentation, its global revenues break down by region as follows:(% of global revenues in brackets):
Israel (32%) North America (21%): operations in United States and Canada Europe (27%): operations in United Kingdom, Germany, Romania, Netherlands, Switzerland, Austria, Hungary, Sweden, Finland, with a wholly-owned subsidiary in Belgium Asia-Pacific (16%): operations in Australia, UAE, India Latin America and other (4%): operations in Brazil
Israel Elbit Systems is the largest Israeli military manufacturer and produces 85% of the Israel Defense Force's land-based equipment as well as 85% of the drones used by the Israeli Air Force. Elbit advertises that its equipment has been battle-tested by the IDF in operations in Gaza and the West Bank. Elbit's drones have been involved in multiple incidents involving civilian deaths. While Israel does not officially acknowledge that its drones are used to carry out strikes in Gaza or elsewhere, a 2016 report published by The Intercept suggested that Israel has used attack drones in fatal attacks.
In August 2019, Elbit Systems won an Israel Ministry of Defense contract to install the Iron Fist active protection system on the IDF's new Eitan AFV and the IDF's fleet of armored D9 bulldozers.
An Elbit Hermes 450 drone was used in the 2024 World Central Kitchen aid convoy attack which killed seven aid workers in multiple missile strikes against three marked aid vehicles.
In May 2026, Israel’s Ministry of Defense signed a $34 million contract with Elbit Systems’ Cyclone subsidiary to develop external fuel tanks for the F-35I “Adir,” manufactured by Lockheed Martin. The goal is to extend the Jet’s operational range and reduce reliance on aerial refuelling during long-range missions.
United States Elbit owns several companies in the United States through its American subsidiary, Elbit Systems of America (ESA). ESA operates under a special security agreement with a proxy board, allowing it to function independently and separately from its parent company. Elbit Systems of America (ESA) is incorporated in Delaware.
In 2014, Elbit Systems won a two-year, $12.7 million contract for the supply and provision of Apache Aviator Integrated Helmets for the US Army helicopter fleet.Israel's Elbit Systems wins U.S. Army helmet contract. Reuters, October 12, 2014 On March 22, 2018, Elbit Systems and Universal Avionics announced that Elbit would be acquiring Universal Avionics Systems Corporation through an asset acquisition agreement. In 2019, Elbit Systems purchased the night vision business of Harris Corporation for $350million. The purchase was conditional on Harris Corporation's merger with L3 Technologies. In April 2019, Elbit Systems announced that it had partnered with DA-Group to produce and advertise its anti-jamming devices for global navigation satellite systems.
Elbit has facilities in the United States in the following locations:
Talladega, Alabama: IEI (formerly International Enterprises, Inc.) San Jose, California: VSI (VSI is a joint venture with Rockwell Collins, formerly known as Vision Systems International. Elbit and Rockwell Collins each own 50%) Tallahassee, Florida: Talla-Com Merrimack, New Hampshire: Kollsman Inc. Originally founded in 1928 by Paul Kollsman, Kollsman is a subcontractor to Boeing on SBInet, a security system for the US–Mexico border developed for the United States Department of Homeland Security. Fort Mill, South Carolina: UAS Dynamics. Originally a 50–50 joint venture with General Dynamics (GD) Armament and Technical Products. On December 1, 2011, Elbit purchased GD's 50% share) Fort Worth, Texas: Elbit Systems of America (ESA). ESA serves as the US headquarters for Elbit, and the Fort Worth facility manufactures components for the F-16, V-22, and Bradley Fighting Vehicle, among other programs. It was initially the electronics manufacturing facility for General Dynamics operations in Fort Worth; when GD sold its aviation business to Lockheed Martin, the latter was not interested in the facility which it then sold to Elbit. San Antonio, Texas: M7 Aerospace, formerly Fairchild Dornier Aviation McLean, Virginia: Innovative Concepts, Inc. (ICI). Purchased in November 2008 from Herley Industries Roanoke, Virginia: night vision division of the former Harris Corporation. This was purchased by Elbit in September 2019.
Canada
Elbit Systems has had a presence in Canada for over 10 years. In January 2012, Advionix Systems Ltd, a company that had been founded in 2001, renamed itself as Elbit Systems of Canada Limited. In October 2014, it was announced that Elbit had been selected by Rheinmetall Canada Inc to provide ELSAT 2100 satellite-on-the-move (SOTM) systems for the Canadian armed forces.
In December 2016, Elbit acquired Geospectrum Technologies Inc., a small technology company based in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. In March 2018, it was announced that GeoSpectrum had delivered the first version of its Towed Reelable Active Passive Sonar (TRAPS) to the Royal Canadian Navy.
In May 2025, the Investigative Journalism Foundation reported that Elbit Systems had offered to sell Ontario drones to combat forest fires.
United Kingdom Elbit activities in the United Kingdom started in 1995, when it acquired 'Alvis UAV Engines Limited' from Alvis plc. A company that was founded in 1992 by engineer David Garside, to develop Wankel engines for use in UAVs. Garside has been developing Wankel engines since the late 1960s for BSA motorcycles and later Norton Motorcycle Company, and had the idea of using the engines originally developed for motorcycles, for UAV's that required small but powerful source of power. Elbit, through its subsidiary 'Silver Arrow', was the company's only major customer when it was acquired. Since then the company has become a major global supplier of UAV Engines.
Its subsidiary Elbit Systems UK Ltd. was incorporated on September 24, 2004, as a holding company for Elbit's activities in the United Kingdom. The company was incorporated after Elbit and French company Thales Group won a tender (code-named "Watchkeeper program") to supply the British Army with unmanned aerial vehicles. The tender condition included a requirement to set up a local manufacturing facility for the program. Therefore, at the end of 2005, a joint venture company was established with the Thales Group. The joint venture, named UAV Tactical Systems Ltd (U-TacS), was based in Leicester and manufactured the Watchkeeper WK450. A flight testing facility was also set up at ParcAberporth in Wales.
In 2007, Elbit acquired Ferranti Technologies, based in Oldham, Greater Manchester, a company that was part of the historic Ferranti group and provided solutions in the aerospace and defence markets.