Elbit Systems to Supply Skylark I UAV to France's Special Forces

HAIFA, Israel: Elbit Systems Ltd. will supply Skylark I UAV systems to France's Special Forces, as it won a tender involving 10 of the leading UAV manufacturers worldwide. This contract marks Elbit Systems' first UAV contract with France. 
 
Haim Kellerman, General Manager of Elbit Systems UAV Division and Corporate Vice President said that there is a worldwide growing demand for UAVs for Special Forces, counter terrorism units and other forced focused on the security of borders and sensitive facilities. 
 
France's selection of the Skylark attests to its ability to meet the sophisticated challenges of the modern battle field. Elbit Systems considers this agreement with France's Special Forces as a milestone in entering the French market and believes that it will be followed by further agreements with European NATO member countries." 
 
The selection of the Skylark mini-UAV system attests to Elbit Systems' leadership in the UAV global market, where the Company's UAV family performs a central role in the global war of terror and is being used by militaries and homeland security forces worldwide. 
 
The Skylark advanced mini-UAV is a unique man-pack configuration designed for day and night observation and data collection "beyond the hill" up to distances of 10 km. The mini-UAV system is equipped with an exceptionally quiet electric motor, totally autonomous flight and outstanding observation capabilities allowing for easy operation and orientation. The system can be launched by soldiers after a brief training period. The Skylark system enhances ground forces' tactical performance in various mission scenarios. 
 
During the recent war in Lebanon the Skylark mini-UAVs were used by IDF to fly many combat sorties proving their efficiency by supplying valuable intelligence data to the ground forces. Moreover, the systems are currently deployed by several countries as part of the coalition forces in Afghanistan and Iraq.  
 
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.