Elbit Systems opens new production plant in Romania

By Emea Riga
Elbit Systems, a company running defense, security and civil projects, inaugurated on Tuesday a new unit for the production and integration of terrestrial defense systems in Magurele, said Yehuda Vered, CEO of Elbit Systems’ Terrestrial and C4i Systems Division.
“The investment in money is not very large, a few millions of dollars. The important investment here is not the money, we have renovated two empty and destroyed buildings, we have repaired them and we brought tested equipment, but the true investment is in the know-how, in training people,” Vered said.
According to him, the new plant will hire between 100 and 150 new employees. The company already has about 500 employees in Romania in the three existing units.
The new unit will operate as a production and integration centre for turrets and battle stations contracted by Elbit Systems within local programs, but also as a regional hub designed to cover the demand for such systems for other countries.
Elbit Systems has been operating in Romania for more than 25 years and is a traditional supplier of the Ministry of National Defense, having a close collaboration with other local defense companies. During this time, Elbit Systems carried out extensive programs devoted to the Romanian land forces, modernizing the combat aircraft or providing solutions for the naval forces.
Located on the Magurele industrial platform in the immediate vicinity of Bucharest (southwest of Bucharest), the new factory covers almost 1,000 square meters and is the fourth unit opened by Elbit Systems since 1993 when it entered Romania. Thus, the new unit will expand production, research and development activity, will increase the number of employees and will allow the transfer of technological know-how in Romania.
“The new factory is yet another step through which we are tightening up the links with Romania. It is a privilege to be able to provide technologically advanced operational systems to the Romanian Army’s land forces. We are proud to extend the production activity we already have in Romania and we can use the experience acquired globally both to increase the transfer of technology to Romania and to increase the employee base and the export potential of the Romanian defense industry,” added Vered.