Elbit plans first European laser warning systems production center in Sweden
The facility is expected to open in 2027 and will handle local assembly, integration and maintenance of systems designed to detect and locate laser threats. The move adds to Elbit’s expanding industrial footprint in Europe.
Elbit Systems plans to establish its first European production and maintenance center for laser warning systems in Sweden, adding another local manufacturing capability as the Israeli defense group expands its presence across the continent.
The facility, which is expected to become operational in 2027, will handle the integration, assembly, maintenance and long-term support of the systems for European customers, Elbit Systems Sweden announced on Wednesday. The company did not disclose the investment required to establish the center, its planned production capacity or the number of additional employees it expects to hire.
The move reflects a growing emphasis on local defense manufacturing in Europe, where governments are seeking to strengthen industrial capacity and reduce potential vulnerabilities in the supply of military equipment. For defense contractors, establishing production and maintenance facilities within customer markets can also help shorten delivery times and provide closer support throughout a system’s operational life.
Elbit’s planned Swedish center will focus on laser warning systems, which detect and locate laser threats and alert military crews so they can take protective measures. Such systems can help protect military platforms against threats involving laser targeting or illumination. They are distinct from high-power laser weapons, which use directed energy to engage targets.
The new generation of warning systems that Elbit plans to produce in Sweden is designed to integrate with existing command-and-control systems. According to the company, its architecture reduces the number of components required, limits modifications to the platforms on which the systems are installed and is intended to improve reliability.
Elbit said its laser warning systems are already deployed by armed forces around the world and form part of self-protection suites for military platforms. It did not identify the European customers expected to receive equipment from the new center or specify which aircraft, vehicles or other platforms would be supported.
Sweden has become an increasingly important base for Elbit’s European operations. Established in 2020, Elbit Systems Sweden employs more than 100 people across four locations, with its headquarters in Gothenburg. The company works with the Swedish defense sector and has supported the country’s armed forces in defense and digitalization programs, according to the announcement.
The new facility is part of a broader effort by Elbit to expand its industrial footprint beyond Israel. CTech reported last year that the company’s sales to Europe had exceeded $2 billion, while Elbit’s management has described its presence across the continent as a competitive advantage. The company has also opened operational sites in Sweden and Germany.
In Germany, Elbit has been working with defense contractor Diehl Defence on a potential local production arrangement for its SkyStriker loitering munition. A live test in September demonstrated an 80-kilometer target handover, marking progress toward plans to manufacture the Israeli-developed system in Germany. In Serbia, a separate venture involving Elbit and state-owned Jugoimport SDPR has opened a factory to assemble Israeli-designed drones, with further facilities planned.
