17 plant near Casablanca, to produce its SpyX loitering munitions. The site makes Morocco the first country in North Africa and the Middle East, after Israel, to manufacture these drones. In Asia, India’s Defense Procurement Procedure Administration is due to meet to approve a series of defense deals with Israel worth about USD 3.7 billion – deals which include rockets for ground forces and MR-SAM air defense missiles developed by IAI with local company BDL. In November, it was announced that Elbit Systems secured a major contract with the Republic of Singapore Air Force to supply its advanced Hermes 900 unmanned aerial systems, representing a significant technological leap for Singapore. The U.S. and global partnerships While the two-year war against Hamas presented multiple challenges, Israel’s defense-tech sector continues to show momentum. Since October 7, 2023, more than a third of Israel’s defense-tech startups have been founded, marking a rapid expansion of innovation and export-ready capabilities. For buyers, Israel’s “battle-tested” technology offers credibility and immediate operational advantage, while for suppliers and investors, the market promises strong growth potential through exports, co-development partnerships, and long-term servicing opportunities. Pillsbury’s Justin Rubin adds: “Israeli companies have long looked internationally for their market, developing technology in Israel and selling it internationally. The sophistication and efficiency with which Israeli companies are looking abroad, and toward the U.S. in particular, however, has increased. The U.S. was previously a future goal for startups and now we are seeing startups thinking about the U.S. and international markets from day one. This is a positive development as early planning can position these companies for rapid growth and future success.” In the U.S., Israeli defense company UVision signed a landmark USD 982 million multi-year agreement with the U.S. Army for its advanced HERO 120 loitering munitions system - a hybrid between an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and a guided missile. Reported in Globes, this contract represents one of the largest U.S. military procurements of Israeli-made drone technology. Others have followed suit. The Israeli military drone company XTEND reported it had won a contract worth tens of millions of dollars from the U.S. Department of Defense to develop and supply hundreds of AI-based drones.
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