Elbit Systems to supply $60 million-worth 155mm artillery shells to Israel Army.

Elbit Systems on July 31 announced that it was awarded a contract worth approximately $60 million to supply thousands of 155mm artillery shells to the Israeli Defence Forces' Artillery Corps. The contract will be performed over a period of one year.
Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link

155mm artillery shells of Israeli Defence Forces' Artillery Corps (Picture source: Elbit Systems)

Yehuda (Udi) Vered, General Manager of Elbit Systems Land: "Elbit Systems is proud to be a leading supplier to the Israel Ministry of Defense and IDF, supporting its ongoing operational requirements. The expansion and the upgrade of our production infrastructure enable the provision of rapid production of a range of high-quality solutions to the Israeli Ministry of Defense. We continue to implement the company’s strategy that supports the local economy and employment across the nation, from Kiryat Shemona in the Galilee to Ramat Bekaa in the Negev."

The Israeli Artillery Corps is an integral corps of GOC Army Headquarters. It is a diverse corps, with its lion's share consisting of long-range artillery. The corps consists of three main support regiments and a training one:
• 214th "David's Sling" Artillery Regiment, UAV training unit
• 215th "Pillar of Fire" Artillery Regiment, composed of the regular-service battalions Drakon ("Dragon") and Reshef ("Flash") as well as reserve battalions.
• 282nd "Golan" Artillery Regiment, composed of the regular Namer ("Leopard") and Keren ("Ray") battalions, the Ra'am ("Thunder") MLRS battalion, as well as additional reserve battalions.
• 425th "Fire Flame" Artillery Regiment, artillery training unit

The corps also operates the Field Artillery School and a training center. The corps' importance to the IDF is growing due to the rapid evolution of modern technology. The corps is amongst the most advanced components of the IDF, using advanced technology to improve its precision and effectiveness. During the Second Lebanon War, the Israeli Artillery Corps was second only to the Israeli Air Force in the firepower it expended.

Reserve units
• 209th "Kadion" (Reserve) Artillery Regiment
• 213th "Revival" (Reserve) Artillery Regiment
• 454th "Tabor" (Reserve) Artillery Regiment
• 738th (Reserve) Artillery Regiment

Equipment

The primary equipment used in most regular and reserve batteries is the M109 "Doher" (Galloper) self-propelled howitzer. To assist with ammunition carriage and transport, regular batteries use the M548, a modified version of the M113 carrier, nicknamed "Alpha". In addition, batteries also use Humvees and M113 carriers.

Also in service is the M270 MLRS multiple rocket launcher, the Spike NLOS missile system mounted on M113 chassis for precision strike, as well as the Elbit Hermes 450 and IAI Sky Rider UAVs for artillery spotting. On order are the IMI Lynx and IAI Jumper multiple rocket launchers to bolster its strike capability against enemy positions and rocket-launching cells.

In addition, the corps also possesses radar and navigation systems, some of which are classified.

In 1977, the IDF began developing another self-propelled howitzer, the "Sholef" (Gun-slinger), based on the M109 with a Merkava chassis. The main advantage of the "Sholef" was its self-loading ability, which reduced the number of crewmen from 7 to 4. The project was completed but the IDF decided not to mass-produce the "Sholef" because of its high cost, preferring to purchase the M270 MLRS multiple rocket launcher instead. Its main focus switched to improving the precision systems of the "Doher". The "Sholef" was used operationally only once, in 1990.

In 2010, Israel began an overhaul of the Artillery Corps, based on lessons from the 2006 Lebanon War. The Artillery Corps is being upgraded with new, indigenously produced self-propelled cannons, rockets, and missiles produced by Israel's defense industries, which will replace older equipment, as well as state-of-the-art command, control, computers, and communications. Its operational role now reflects a new concept in which artillery is seen as an equal part of the combat force rather than a support element.

Artillery shells of Israeli Defence Forces' Artillery Corps (Picture source: Elbit Systems)

Defense News July 2023