JERUSALEM, Nov. 19 (Xinhua) -- Israeli defense electronics firm Elbit Systems said Wednesday that it has signed 210-million-U.S. dollar contracts with the Israeli Defense Ministry to upgrade the country's main battle tanks.
Under the batch of contracts, to be implemented over six years, Israel's Merkava, a series of main battle tanks developed and used by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), will be modernized with lightweight, AI-enhanced electro-optical sights, as well as advanced target detection, acquisition, and tracking, among other features, the firm said in a statement.
These upgrades aim to enhance the operational effectiveness and survivability of Israel's armored forces, it added.
The Merkava, which entered official production in April 1979 and began operational service with the IDF the same year, has been upgraded over the years. ■
