JERUSALEM, May 21 (Xinhua) -- The Israeli Defense Ministry signed 760-million-U.S. dollar worth of contracts with the Israeli defense electronics company Elbit Systems for ammunition supply, according to separate statements issued by the ministry and the company on Tuesday.
The ministry said in the statement that the ammunition, to be supplied in two-year purchase orders, are intended for the ground forces of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).
It noted that since the onset of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict in early October last year, Elbit has ramped up its production lines across the country in response to the ministry's demand, with thousands of employees transitioning to an expanded work schedule.
It added that since the outbreak of the conflict, the ministry has expanded procurement to support the building of the IDF's strength and longevity for continued fighting, to ensure Israeli production independence in vital areas, and to strengthen the economy.
The total purchases made by the ministry since the outbreak of the conflict is estimated at tens of billions of shekels (1 shekel is about 0.27 U.S. dollar), with more than half of the purchases made from Israeli suppliers, according to the statement. ■
