Israeli defense company Elbit Systems announced in late March that it had signed a contract to supply an artillery ammunition production line to an undisclosed Asia-Pacific country. The transaction will be completed within 2.5 years and is valued at approximately $130 million.
“This [contract] “This award is a testament to the quality of our product portfolio and our proven ability to collaborate on technology in partner countries,” said Bezhalel Machlis, President and CEO of Elbit Systems. The company declined to disclose the identities of customers.
A potential candidate could be Thailand, which in early 2019 expressed interest in expanding its partnership with Elbit Systems, which has already led to the use of locally produced mortar systems and howitzers by the Royal Thai Army and Marine Corps.
These include the Automatic Truck Mounted Mortar (ATMM), which is equipped with Elbit’s 120mm spear mortar system on a Tata 4×4 truck, and an automatic truck mounted gun that integrates Elbit’s ATMOS 155mm/52 caliber self (ATMG) – Propulsion howitzer on a Tatra 6×6 truck.
The ATMM and ATMG are manufactured by the Artillery and Mortar Production Division of the Army Weapons Production Center (WPC) and supported by Elbit Technology Transfer. The Royal Thai Army and Elbit also earlier expressed interest in further cooperation, but details have not been released.
Another possible candidate could be the Philippines, which has taken delivery of 12 ATMOS 155mm/52 caliber self-propelled howitzers and M125A2 120mm self-propelled mortar systems announced in April 2020 for $46 million.
The Philippines has become a major regional customer for Elbit Systems, also acquiring the company’s tracked Sabrah ASCOD II light tanks and wheeled Sabrah Pandur II vehicles, as well as various drones such as the Hermes 450 and Hermes 900, as well as the Skylark LEX and Skylark 3 platforms.
