Israel’s revolutionary defense industry

Elbit Systems is Israel’s largest defense company and frequently ranks among the most important in the world. In 2018, it was the 27th most important company in its defense field by revenue globally. It is a key part of Israel’s hi-tech and groundbreaking defense technology sector that has made Israel the eighth most important country in defense supplies.

In terms of what Israel excels at, weapons platforms such as air defense, improving communications technology and unmanned aircraft systems, including electro-optical imaging, Elbit is integral to the whole ethos of what makes Israel unique.

Elbit describes itself as an “international high technology company engaged in a wide range of defense, homeland security and commercial programs around the world.”

It’s in the news frequently, most recently for a $30 million high-precision guided mortar sale in Asia, and a new partnership with DA-Group to produce and market Elbit Systems’ Immune Satellite Navigation System (iSNS).

This confronts the threat posed by GPS jamming, which has affected Finland and Scandinavian countries.

Technology is a key part of war fighting today. The long-arc of the history of warfare has gone through several technological revolutions, from developments like radar in the 1930s to the Revolution in Military Affairs that theorized dominance based on technology. Today’s challenge is even more sophisticated, harnessing every technology to make weapons more precise and armies more aware.

To understand how Elbit is changing both the Israeli defense market and the world, the Magazine spoke to Joseph Gaspar, Elbit Systems executive vice president and chief financial officer.