Elbit Systems Ltd. announced today that it was awarded a $95 million contract to supply SkyStriker loitering munitions (LM) to a European country. The contract will be carried out over a period of two years. As part of the contract Elbit Systems will provide several hundred SkyStriker units. Elbit Systems’ SkyStriker LM is a fully autonomous loitering munition that can locate, acquire and engage operator designated targets with a warhead of up to 10 Kg, enabling high-precision performance. SkyStriker can be launched from a variety of ground and aerial platforms, including from a dedicated canister on Elbit Systems’ PULS™ (Precise and Universal Launching System) rocket artillery systems. Equipped with an electrical engine, the SkyStriker enables covert operations of up to 2 hours and with a range of 100km. The system can precisely strike targets while maintaining a “man in the loop” even in GPS and communication denied environments.
Yoram Shmuely, General Manager of Elbit Systems Aerospace: “We are pleased to deliver an innovative and effective solution to our cutomers that combines Elbit Systems air and ground solutions. As a covert and agile platform, the SkyStriker loitering munition delivers high performance precision and reliability, providing a mission critical advantage to warfighters on the modern battlefield.”
The Skystriker can use a number of warhead types and thanks to its modular design, it can be interchanged in the field during pre-flight according to the operational requirement. Due to rapid ?ight speed capability, SkyStriker can reach a distance of 20 Km within ten minutes. Upon reaching the target area, the LM can loiter and pursue the target for up to 2 hours with a 5 Kg warhead or up to 1 hour with a 10 Kg warhead. SkyStriker uses autonomous navigation during its cruising and loitering phases. When preparing to strike, the LM navigates based on its electro optical “lock” on the target. During the strike phase, the LM can dive at extremely high speeds of up to 300 knots and can withstand winds of up to 40 knots with only slight degradation in performance accuracy.
Elbit Systems Ltd. is an international high technology company engaged in a wide range of defense, homeland security and commercial programs throughout the world. The Company, which includes Elbit Systems and its subsidiaries, operates in the areas of aerospace, land and naval systems, command, control, communications, computers, intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance (“C4ISR”), unmanned aircraft systems, advanced electro-optics, electro-optic space systems, EW suites, signal intelligence systems, data links and communications systems, radios, cyber-based systems and munitions. The Company also focuses on the upgrading of existing platforms, developing new technologies for defense, homeland security and commercial applications and providing a range of support services, including training and simulation systems.
