Elbit seals light tank deal for Asia-Pacific customer
Three-year contract includes ASCOD 2 and Pandur II vehicles with Sabrah two-man turret.
Elbit Systems announced on 26 January that it has been awarded a three-year contract, worth about $172 million, to supply light tanks.
While Elbit only referred to the customer as ‘a country in Asia-Pacific’, Shephard notes similarities with requirements announced by the Philippines last year.
Elbit will provide ASCOD 2 tracked light tanks and Pandur II 8x8 fire support vehicles (pictured), manufactured respectively by General Dynamics European Land Systems in Spain and Excalibur Army in the Czech Republic.
Each vehicle will be supplied in a 30t configuration with a 105mm gun and two-man Sabrah turret made by Elbit, for ‘a unique combination of powerful fire capacity and high maneuverability’, the Israeli company noted.
Other equipment to be provided by Elbit includes EO sights, fire-control systems, E-LynX software-defined radios, the Torch-X battle management system and life support systems.
As part of our promise to deliver comprehensive coverage to our Defence Insight and Premium News subscribers, our curated defence news content provides the latest industry updates, contract awards and programme milestones.
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Land Warfare
-
![World Defense Show 2026: DOK-ING working on MV-8 variants and reveals specs ahead of Eurosatory]()
World Defense Show 2026: DOK-ING working on MV-8 variants and reveals specs ahead of Eurosatory
The Croatian company began the development of the MV-8 modular uncrewed platform in the early 2020s. Specifications for the vehicle were revealed to Shephard at World Defense Show 2026.
-
![World Defense Show 2026: Turkish and European industries will cooperate, says Aselsan boss]()
World Defense Show 2026: Turkish and European industries will cooperate, says Aselsan boss
Aselsan was formed 50 years ago in response to difficulties Turkey was facing in sourcing major systems internationally. While some challenges still remain, company president Ahmet Akyol believes a rapprochement is possible.
-
![World Defense Show 2026: Russia reveals details of new loitering munition]()
World Defense Show 2026: Russia reveals details of new loitering munition
The Kalashnikov RUS-PE cannister-launched man-portable loitering munition was displayed as a model at World Defense Show 2026 with a company official telling Shephard it was “in service and in low-rate initial production”.
-
![World Defense Show 2026: MARSS displays new Nation Shield air defence C2 system]()
World Defense Show 2026: MARSS displays new Nation Shield air defence C2 system
Nation Shield is the latest iteration of the MARSS C2 system and is designed to provide C2 further forward along with more capable air defence.
