Elbit will expand its ties with the German submarine manufacturer TKMS, after both companies signed a memorandum of understanding on Wednesday.
TKMS already had ties with both the Israeli Navy, to which it sold four new submarines worth billions of shekels, and Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), with which it worked on a deal to supply the German Navy with unmanned submarine vehicles.
The latest deal will focus on advancing technological capabilities while simultaneously strengthening the strategic ties between Germany and Israel, Oliver Burkhard, CEO of TKMS, said in a statement.
“In today’s complex security environment, close cooperation between partners who share a similar worldview is essential to ensuring stability and resilience,” he added.
“By combining the technological strengths and operational experience of both companies, we aim to provide advanced solutions that will meet the evolving needs of maritime forces,” said Bezhalel Machlis, president and CEO of Elbit Systems.
Israel-Germany defense ties grow stronger
Elbit has been operating in Germany for several years, with its main maritime products sold in the country, including electronic warfare systems, the Sigal unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), and sonar systems.
Elbit’s activities in Germany are based on the communications systems division of the German Telefunken, which it acquired in 2004.
It also already manufactures structural parts for submarines for TKMS in Israel, and has previously sold systems to the German Navy.
Germany is also one of the main contractors of Israeli defense firms, with both Elbit, Rafael, and IAI providing key systems to the German forces, such as the IAI’s Arrow-3 system and Heron TP UAVs to the German Air Force, and Rafael’s Spike anti-tank missiles.
