TEL AVIV \u2014 Elbit Systems began the year with US $190 million in long-term business from two new private financing initiative (PFI) outsourcing deals with Israel’s Ministry of Defense.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The first, announced Sunday, Jan. 4, <\/span>is an 11-year contract to maintain front-line fighter avionics systems on behalf of the Israel Air Force (IAF). <\/p>\n\n\n\n Under the estimated $90 million award, the Haifa-based firm will build, own and operate a national avionics subsystems maintenance center to be co-located at a major IAF base.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The second, announced Monday, is an eight-year follow-on contract to provide, operate and maintain a full squadron of aircraft dedicated to national firefighting missions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Elbit was selected as Israel’s provider of emergency firefighting planes following a December 2010 fire that raged through the Carmel Mountain area near Haifa over four days, killing more than 40.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Under its first PFI award from MoD, Elbit acquired eight aircraft from Olney, Texas-based Air Tractor and established airstrips and operational procedures in coordination with the IAF, the National Parks Authority and ground-based firefighting authorities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Since the initial firefighting squadron began operating in early 2011, Elbit and Chim-Nir.a locally based firm that provides pilots to Elbit under subcontract, have accrued some 2,500 flight hours in more than 4,600 missions, according to the firm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Under the latest contract, Elbit will acquire another six AT-802s from Air Tractor and expand the number of airfields and the personnel needed to operate and maintain the US-built planes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n