Italian Air Force Buys ELT/572 DIRCM for C-130J, C-27J and AW101 Aircraft

Elbit Systems Ltd. (NASDAQ and TASE: ESLT) ("Elbit Systems"), announced today, at the Paris Air Show, that it was awarded a contract valued in excess of $15 million by Elettronica S.p.A ("Elettronica") to participate in a program to supply the ELT/572 DIRCM (Directed Infra-Red Countermeasures) system for installation on various platforms of the Italian Air Force, including the C130J, C27J and AW101. The contract will be performed over the next three years.

Based on Elbit Systems Electro-Optics Elop Ltd. ("Elop") MUSIC® system, ELT/572 was jointly funded by Elettronica and Elop under a cooperation agreement between the companies.

MUSIC® is based on advanced fiber laser technology and counters MANPADS (man portable air defense systems) by emitting a laser beam towards an approaching missile causing the missile to veer off course.

Adi Dar, Elop's General Manager, commented: "We are extremely pleased with our cooperation with Elettronica on DIRCM that has resulted in this initial contract for the Italian Air Force. The threat of MANPADS to military cargo planes, tankers and helicopters, as well as commercial aviation is increasing, and our family of DIRCM systems provides effective protection to the aircraft".

Source: Elbit Systems to Supply DIRCM Systems to the Italian Air Force

Resources

DIRCM - Directional InfraRed CounterMeasure
ELT - Elettronica S.p.A.
MANPADS - Man Portable Air Defense Systems
US - United States

Aerospace Forces : C-130J Super Hercules
Aerospace Forces : C-27J Spartan
Aerospace Forces : CC-130J Super Hercules
Aerospace Forces : EH101
Aerospace Forces : EH101 Merlin
Components : ELT/572
Aerospace Forces : KC-130J Super Hercules

Italy