Elbit signs $190 million deal to train IDF artillery crews for the next 15 years
The agreement with the Defense Ministry covers a new training facility for the SIGMA howitzer and PULS rocket launcher, including simulators, instruction and long-term maintenance support.
Elbit Systems has signed a 15-year agreement worth more than $190 million with Israel’s Ministry of Defense to establish and operate an advanced training facility for the IDF Artillery Corps, expanding the defense contractor’s role in the military’s transition to a new generation of artillery systems.
The agreement, valued at approximately NIS 600 million, covers training for commanders and soldiers operating the SIGMA self-propelled howitzer and the PULS rocket launcher system. It includes the development and supply of training infrastructure, as well as instruction, maintenance and logistical support over the life of the contract.
The facility, which will be established in cooperation with the IDF Ground Forces, is expected to include advanced classrooms, driving simulators and mission simulators, alongside dedicated physical infrastructure. The Ministry of Defense did not disclose a timetable for construction or the facility’s opening.
The agreement comes ahead of the platforms’ full entry into operational service. The ministry says the new training model is intended to help the Artillery Corps make fuller use of the systems’ capabilities while shortening qualification and training periods, improving soldiers’ proficiency and reducing the use and maintenance costs of operational equipment.
“The agreement we signed is significant news for strengthening the power and readiness of the IDF, and directly reflects the Ministry’s strategy of enhancing operational readiness, strengthening Israeli industry and ensuring a long-term technological and logistical response for field forces,” said Zeev Landau, deputy director general of the Ministry of Defense and head of its Defense Procurement Directorate.
“The combination of advanced training and simulation technologies with a full, long-term support envelope will help the IDF Artillery Corps realize the full firepower potential of the SIGMA howitzer and the new systems, while saving and optimally utilizing resources,” he added.
“Elbit, as a partner to the needs of the defense establishment and the IDF, has developed for the Ground Forces one of the world’s most advanced training and instruction arrays,” said Boaz Cohen, executive vice president and general manager of Elbit Systems Land.
“The Artillery School and the training array for Artillery Corps soldiers will enable the Artillery Corps to receive high-quality and efficient training, maintaining the fire array at the highest level of readiness,” he said.
The two systems at the center of the agreement represent a modernization of Israel’s artillery capabilities. The SIGMA, also known as Ro’em, is a next-generation self-propelled howitzer developed by Elbit in cooperation with the IDF. Its automated features are designed to accelerate artillery operations, including the process of preparing and executing fire missions.
The PULS system, meanwhile, is a rocket launcher capable of firing different types of rockets and missiles. It has also become an important part of Elbit’s international business. In October 2026, the company announced a $235 million contract to supply PULS systems and EXTRA-MR rockets to Azerbaijan.
The new agreement gives Elbit a long-term role in preparing IDF personnel to operate both systems, while adding a substantial training and support contract to the company’s relationship with the Israeli defense establishment. It also reflects the growing importance of simulation-based training as militaries introduce more complex and technologically advanced equipment.
