Elbit Systems to Provide Operation and Maintenance Services for the New Israeli Air Force Trainer, "Effroni"

HAIFA, Israel, July 7 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Elbit Systems Ltd. (NASDAQ: ESLT) announced today that it was awarded a contract by the Israeli Ministry of Defense for the operation and maintenance of the new Israeli Air Force's trainer, Beechcraft T-6 ("Effroni"). The contract amount which is not material to Elbit Systems, will be delivered over the course of five years, with an option for an additional five years.

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The IAF's new T-6 replaces jet trainer Fouga Magister ("Zukit") that has served the IAF's flight school for decades. With the procurement of the new trainer, the Israeli Air Force joins leading air forces in training new pilots onboard turbo-prop aircraft, considered safer for training purposes and more cost-effective than jet aircraft.

Yoram Shmueli, Co-General Manager of Elbit Systems' Aerospace Division, said: "We are extremely proud of this selection, which is yet another link in the chain of IAF projects we have been managing and that consistently rank high in the IAF's quality and performance tests."

Shmueli added: "We have witnessed a growing global trend toward privatization of training operation and management and we hope that our experience and reputation achieved in projects tailored for the IAF, will leverage our position in similar projects worldwide."

Elbit Systems has provided the IAF with maintenance services for its training aircraft and helicopters since 2002.

About Elbit Systems

Elbit Systems Ltd. is an international defense electronics company engaged in a wide range of defense-related 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 air vehicle (UAV) systems, advanced electro-optics, electro-optic space systems, EW suites, airborne warning systems, ELINT systems, data links and military communications systems and radios. The Company also focuses on the upgrading of existing military platforms and developing new technologies for defense, homeland security and commercial aviation applications.

For additional information, visit: http://www.elbitsystems.com.

This press release contains forward-looking statements (within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) regarding Elbit Systems Ltd. and/or its subsidiaries (collectively the Company), to the extent such statements do not relate to historical or current fact. Forward Looking Statements are based on management's expectations, estimates, projections and assumptions. Forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve certain risks and uncertainties, which are difficult to predict. Therefore, actual future results, performance and trends may differ materially from these forward-looking statements due to a variety of factors, including, without limitation: scope and length of customer contracts; governmental regulations and approvals; changes in governmental budgeting priorities; general market, political and economic conditions in the countries in which the Company operates or sells, including Israel and the United States among others; differences in anticipated and actual program performance, including the ability to perform under long-term fixed-price contracts; and the outcome of legal and/or regulatory proceedings. The factors listed above are not all-inclusive, and further information is contained in Elbit Systems Ltd.'s latest annual report on Form 20-F, which is on file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. All forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this release. The Company does not undertake to update its forward-looking statements.

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    Elbit Systems Ltd
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