Tel Aviv. Israeli company Elbit Systems was awarded a contract worth approximately $270 million to supply rocket artillery to an international customer. The contract will be performed over a period of 4 years.
Bezhalel (Butzi) Machlis, President and CEO of Elbit Systems said, “This contract reaffirms Elbit Systems’ position as a leading provider of advanced artillery solutions, enhancing the operational capabilities of our clients with cutting-edge technologies.”
The company has not disclosed the customer but recently we reported that after Spain, at least two additional European armies have decided to procure the advanced PULS artillery systems made by Israeli company Elbit.
In December 2023, the Spanish army decided procure the Elbit Systems’ PULS ground- ground rocket systems.
A group of Spanish companies creating a Spanish rocket launcher based on the PULS was given a contract for over €700 million by the Spanish Military Procurement Directorate for the production and supply of the system.
The Spanish companies Escribano Mechanical & Engineering and Rheinmetall Expal Munitions, which are developing a Spanish Rocket Launcher based on Israeli Elbit Systems’ PULS (Precise & Universal Launching System), known as Silam in Spain, will manufacture and supply the systems.
Until the end of 2024 , the launchers and training rockets will be delivered and starting in 2025, live ammunition will be supplied to the Spanish army. By 2028, the army is expected to receive the last batch of rockets. In addition to the twelve launchers, the package comes with a number of support vehicles and systems, ten different kinds of command post vehicles, two recovery vehicles, six high mobility reconnaissance vehicles, twelve munition vehicles with cranes, and a rocket launcher platform for ammunition testing and validation.
The PULS is a launcher carried by a heavy truck and capable of launching different types of rockets to ranges of up to 300 km.
According to the official Elbit brochure, the multi-purpose launcher features two PODS; each POD is designed for a specific rocket type: the Accular 122mm (18 rockets) with a range of up to 35 km, the Accular 160mm (10 rockets) with a range of up to 40 km, the EXTRA (4 rockets) with a range of up to 150 km and the Predator Hawk (2 rockets) with a range of up to 300 km.
The PULS has created interest in many countries and recently it was reported that the Royal Army of the Netherlands has decided to purchase it.
Elbit Systems has taken this system some steps forward and recently unveiled the Light PULS. This, according to the company, is a “lightweight airborne” version rocket launcher system developed to meet the battlefield challenges of Special Forces operating in remote, high-risk locations that are beyond the range of traditional artillery fire support.
-The writer is an Israel-based freelance journalist. The views expressed are of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the views of Raksha Anirveda
