Elbit Systems
Israel's largest private defence electronics company; manufactures F-35I avionics, drones, and electronic warfare systems.
Last refreshed: 16 May 2026
What does a $34 million F-35I range-extension contract tell us about Israel's strike planning against Iran?
- What is Elbit Systems and what does it make?
- Elbit Systems is Israel's largest private defence electronics company, traded on TASE and Nasdaq. It designs and manufactures F-35I avionics, the Hermes family of drones (including the Hermes 900), electronic warfare systems, the Iron Vision helmet-mounted display, and the Torch-X battlefield management platform. It is the primary avionics integrator for Israel's F-35I Adir variant.Source: entity background
- What F-35I contract did Elbit Systems receive in May 2026?
- On 14 May 2026, Defense News reported Elbit Systems received a $34 million contract to extend the operational range of the F-35I Adir, with the active conflict with Iran cited as the explicit rationale. The contract signals Israel is preparing for longer-range strike options beyond the current Adir combat radius.Source: entity background
- Is Elbit Systems a government-owned company?
- No. Unlike state-owned Rafael Advanced Defense Systems and Israel Aerospace Industries, Elbit Systems is a fully private commercial enterprise traded on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange (TASE: ESLT) and Nasdaq (ESLT). It competes for international contracts alongside its domestic IDF role.Source: entity background
- Does Elbit Systems sell drones to Ukraine?
- Yes. Ukrainian operators have used Elbit's Hermes-series unmanned aerial vehicles in the Russia-Ukraine conflict. The Hermes family — including the Hermes 900 and Hermes 450 — is exported to at least 20 countries, making Elbit a recurring presence across Lowdown's defence and conflict topics.Source: entity background
Background
Elbit Systems is Israel's largest private defence electronics and systems company, traded on both the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange (TASE: ESLT) and Nasdaq (ESLT). Headquartered in Haifa, it designs and manufactures avionics, unmanned aerial systems, electro-optics, electronic warfare suites, and ground systems, primarily for the Israel Defense Forces and export customers across Europe, the Americas, and Asia-Pacific. Unlike state-owned Rafael Advanced Defense Systems and Israel Aerospace Industries, Elbit operates as a fully commercial enterprise, competing for international contracts alongside its domestic defence role.
Elbit is the primary avionics integrator on the F-35I Adir, Israel's domestically configured variant of Lockheed Martin's F-35A. The company supplies indigenous electronic warfare suites, helmet-mounted display systems, and mission computer elements that distinguish the Adir from export variants. In the drone domain, Elbit manufactures the Hermes family of unmanned aerial vehicles including the Hermes 900 and Hermes 450, exported to at least 20 countries. Its electronic warfare business unit produces radar jamming and signals intelligence systems deployed by multiple NATO and partner militaries. Elbit also manufactures the Iron Vision helmet-mounted display and the Torch-X battlefield management platform.
On 14 May 2026, Defense News reported that Elbit Systems received a $34 million contract to extend the operational range of the F-35I Adir, citing the active conflict with Iran as the explicit rationale. The contract represents a medium-term Israeli force posture adjustment, indicating the IDF is preparing for longer-range strike options beyond current Adir combat radius. Across the Russia-Ukraine conflict and the global drone market, Elbit products appear in multiple theatres — Ukrainian operators use Hermes-series drones — making the company a recurring presence across Lowdown's defence and conflict topics.
