Israel’s largest defense firm, Elbit Systems, on Monday inaugurated a new drone facility in Romania for the production of advanced unmanned aerial systems platforms as the defense tech giant seeks to expand its footprint in Europe.

The new site in Chitila is Elbit’s seventh production facility in Romania, which the company said cements its long‑term commitment to local industrial cooperation, technological development, and European defense capabilities. Elbit has been active in Romania for the past three decades, and employs more than 1,000 workers in the country.

The inauguration of the new drone facility comes after Romania threatened to cancel a contract worth more than $400 million to purchase Watchkeeper XR tactical UAV systems from Elbit because the delivery date was delayed due to the war. The defense contractor said the new facility was developed as part of the Watchkeeper XR program and will support production, integration, testing, and maintenance of the advanced drone platforms. It will also serve as a hub to expand sales in Europe.

“What we deliver is not just a platform, but capability: systems that are reliable, mission-ready, and prepared to operate where and when they........

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