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Serbia has reportedly signed a major contract with Israeli weapons producer Elbit Systems, emphasising the emerging political alliance between the two countries.On August 17, Israeli media reported that the Balkan country would acquire defence technology for $1.6 billion (€1.4 billion) over a five-year period.The agreement comprises two groups of products. On the one hand, Serbia will buy long-range precision strike artillery-rocket systems as well as different unmanned reconnaissance and drones. On the other hand, the country is investing in ISTAR capabilities (intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance), which will include night-vision equipment and electronic warfare systems...The agreement will also include...

US, Elbit Systems of America, LLC, was awarded an approximately $26 million contract from the United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to install an Integrated Fixed Towers (IFT) system in the US Border Patrol Casa Grande Area of Responsibility (AoR) in Arizona. The project will be performed over a one-year period. To date, Elbit Systems of America has been awarded a number of contracts from CBP to install IFT systems in numerous AoRs covering a total of approximately 200 miles of the Arizona–Mexico border. The IFT system comprises a command and control centre and a networked multi-tower, multi-sensor system...

Elbit Systems’ 12-meter experimental Unmanned Surface Vehicle (USV), dubbed Seagull, has been busy testing new capabilities and control concepts in recent months. The idea is that a small swarm of these craft—well, just two right now—can be controlled from a single workstation, deployed either ashore or on a ship. From there, tasks such as harbor patrol and force protection, mine detection, search and rescue and even anti-submarine warfare can be conducted with maximum efficiency. The Seagull’s semi-autonomous control concept, long endurance (up to 96 hours of runtime), advanced sensor suite, and ease of adaptation could allow it to be a...

Israel to advance F-16, Black Hawk upgrades By Arie Egozi The Israeli air force is to enhance the combat effectiveness of its 125 Lockheed Martin F-16C/D fighters, to modify its Sikorsky UH-60 utility helicopters for attack duties by launching the Armed Black Hawk programme. Israel's F-16C/Ds are to receive the same avionics equipment integrated with its new-generation F-16Is, with this intended to boost commonality and allow the aircraft to remain in use until at least 2020. The air force says the upgrade, which has already undergone flight test using an F-16D, will also enable the older aircraft to carry new...

Turkey to buy $200m. of Israeli UAVsArieh O'Sullivan, THE JERUSALEM POST                                         Apr. 18, 2005Culminating over six years of negotiations, Turkey is finally signing a $200 million deal on Monday to purchase a network of Israeli unmanned aerial vehicles and ground stations.Turkey's Defense Ministry chose the Israel Aircraft Industries' Heron drone and Elbit System's ground stations over the US General Atomics Aeronautical System's Predator.The Heron is a multi-role drone used for surveillance and reconnaissance missions. The deal involves some 10 ground stations, each one with three or four UAVs. TheTurkish army, navy and air forces are all to use them.According to...