Elbit Systems To Supply Artillery Systems To A European NATO Country
Elbit Systems, an Israeli defense firm, revealed last week that it had been awarded two contracts totaling $252 million to provide artillery rocket systems to a European NATO member state. According to a statement from the company, the first contract, worth $119 million, calls for the delivery of a battalion of ATMOS 155 mm/52 caliber truck-mounted howitzers to an unnamed customer over the course of the following two years. A bundle of rockets and missiles as well as two PULS rocket launcher systems are included in the second contract, which is valued $133 million. The second contract, at $133 million, includes the supply of two PULS rocket launcher systems and “a package of rockets and missiles”.
Regarding the contracts, Bezhalel (Butzi) Machlis, President and CEO of Elbit Systems, said: “We are witnessing a trajectory of an increased demand for advanced artillery solutions from militiaries around the world, including European countries and NATO members as part of their efforts to increase the effectiveness of their armed forces. Our operationally proven systems provide an advanced cost effective solution to meet that demand.”
Although the customer’s identity is not stated in the company’s press release, it is thought that the country in question is Denmark. Denmark, which donated all of the 19 Caesar howitzer artillery systems it ordered from French arms manufacturer Nexter in 2017 and 2019 to Ukraine last month, quickly began to look for a new supplier for new equipment in order to close this gap in its artillery capabilities, strengthen deterrence against Russia and reassure NATO Member States in the east. In this regard, the Danish Defense Acquisition and Logistics Organization (FMI), which is part of the Danish Ministry of Defense, began discussions with Elbit Systems in January for the delivery of ATMOS truck-mounted howitzer and PULS rocket launcher systems as soon as possible.
On the subject, Danish Defense Minister Jakob Ellemann-Jensen said in a statement at the time, “the donation to Ukraine leaves a critical capability gap in defense. It is therefore very good and important news that the government and the vast majority of parties in the Danish Parliament have agreed to immediately acquire not only new artillery systems, but also rocket launcher systems. Rocket launchers were purchased in addition to the new artillery systems. It is important for the Armed Forces and important for Denmark to meet its NATO obligations.” The defense minister also expressed his joy that a solution could be found that would allow the Armed Forces to quickly rebuild the necessary operational capacity, noting that it is also crucial for the continuing development of the 1st brigade, which is a component of the new rapid reaction force.
ATMOS and PULS systems, according to Elbit Systems, provide various advantages to the customer country’s armed forces. The ATMOS is a 155mm/52 caliber truck-mounted howitzer. ATMOS, which features an onboard electronics package, automatic deployment system, and automatic loading system, can fire any NATO-certified 155mm shell with an effective range of more than 40 kilometers, according to the company. The Precise and Universal Launch System (PULS), on the other hand, can launch guided or unguided precision rockets and missiles with ranges ranging from 12 to 300 kilometers.