Elbit Systems wins $95 million contract for SkyStriker loitering munitions
Elbit's announcement of a sale to a European country of its SkyStriker takes the number of known export customers to five. (Photo: Elbit Systems)
Elbit Systems has been awarded a $95 million contract to supply several hundred SkyStriker loitering munitions to a European country.
The contract is with an undisclosed country and will be carried out over a period of two years.
Shephard Defence Insight lists a unit price of $105,000 meaning the contract maybe for as many as 904 units but this does not take into account ancillary items like launchers, training and support so is likely to be substantially less than half that number.
SkyStriker is a fully autonomous loitering munition that can locate, acquire and engage operator-designated targets with a warhead of up to 10kg, enabling high-precision performance.
Related Articles
Paris Air Show: SkyStriker makes debut
UAVs, loitering munitions play significant role in latest Armenia-Azerbaijan clashes
The munition can be launched from a variety of ground and aerial platforms, including a dedicated canister on Elbit's PULS (Precise and Universal Launching System) rocket artillery.
Equipped with an electric motor, the SkyStriker enables covert operations of up to 2h and with a range of 100km. It 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.
SkyStriker has seen some success in Central Asia with sales to Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan and has also been sold to India.
In a further sign of Elbit’s efforts to establish itself in Europe, on 14 September the company and Europe’s KNDS signed an agreement to formalise their strategic cooperation to create a next-generation rocket artillery system, known as EuroPULS and a further development of PULS.
Related Programmes in Defence Insight
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Air Warfare
-
![Norway cleared for possible $2.6 billion HH-60W helicopter FMS]()
Norway cleared for possible $2.6 billion HH-60W helicopter FMS
The possible sale for nine HH-60W makes Norway the first Foreign Military Sale customer for the rescue and combat helicopter and adds to the country’s ongoing acquisition of Sikorsky-made helicopters.
-
![Bell selected over Boeing to build DARPA SPRINT X-Plane]()
Bell selected over Boeing to build DARPA SPRINT X-Plane
The programme first began in 2023 with Bell and Boeing’s concepts progressing to Phase 1B, in which testing has been carried out over the last year.
-
![National Audit Office report highlights major delays in UK’s F-35 programme]()
National Audit Office report highlights major delays in UK’s F-35 programme
The report discloses that while the capability provided by the F-35 is superior to previous UK aircraft, delays from the UK Ministry of Defence on the programme have significantly impacted the country’s warfighting capabilities.
-
![France and UK to resume and upgrade Storm Shadow/SCALP production]()
France and UK to resume and upgrade Storm Shadow/SCALP production
The new ‘Entente Industrielle’ will work on a range of other projects to boost the UK economy and defence industry, including joint development on new high-tech frequency weapons and extended range air-to-air missiles.
-
![Boeing E-7A still in South Korean AEW&C competition, despite dropout reports]()
Boeing E-7A still in South Korean AEW&C competition, despite dropout reports
The E-7A is one of three aircraft submitted for the South Korean AEW&C II competition, which seeks to acquire four more aircraft of the type for its air force by 2028.
