Israel Orders a 15 Year Training Center for New Artillery Systems
Israel's Defense Ministry has ordered a dedicated training center for the IDF's Ro'em and Lahav artillery systems. Elbit says its contract is worth about $170 million and runs for 15 years.
The investment covers the facilities that teach crews to operate the systems, as well as instruction and support over the life of the agreement. In its November 2 announcement, Elbit Systems said it will provide mission simulators, driving simulators, classrooms and dedicated training infrastructure.
The Defense Ministry describes the project at approximately NIS 600 million.
Two Weapons Systems, One Training Project
The center is intended to support the integration of the Ro'em, known internationally as SIGMA, and the Lahav, the IDF's name for the PULS rocket launcher system. One is a self propelled howitzer; the other launches rockets.
That combination means the project extends beyond familiarizing a crew with a single vehicle. The contract includes both driving practice and mission training, while the supporting classrooms and facilities are intended for commanders and artillery personnel.
The Defense Ministry said its procurement directorate signed the agreement in cooperation with the IDF Ground Forces. It identified training, maintenance and logistical support as parts of the package, alongside the development and supply of equipment.
Simulation Before Wear on Operational Vehicles
Elbit says the training infrastructure will incorporate simulation, automation and functions based on artificial intelligence. The company presents shorter qualification periods, improved proficiency and lower resource consumption as objectives of the project.
The ministry similarly says the approach is intended to reduce the time spent on certification and limit wear on operational platforms. These are the stated aims of the program; the announcement provides no measured savings or completed training results.
For the Artillery Corps, the practical issue is connecting new equipment with crews able to operate and maintain it. A 15 year service commitment makes training and support recurring parts of the acquisition, rather than a single delivery of simulators.
What Changes With Ro'em and Lahav
Elbit describes SIGMA as a 155 millimeter howitzer with automated loading and gun positioning, operated from a protected cabin by a crew of three. The manufacturer says the system can select and load the projectile, propellant and fuze automatically.
PULS serves a different role. Elbit describes a launcher able to use several types of rocket ammunition from one platform. Its product material includes training rockets as well as precision guided ammunition, giving the training system a range of tasks to reproduce.
Elbit's February 19 overview of PULS describes a family of ammunition with different ranges: ACCULAR at 35 kilometers, EXTRA at 150 kilometers and Predator Hawk at up to 300 kilometers. It also describes integration of third party munitions and the use of shorter range training rockets to practice scenarios involving guided ammunition. These are manufacturer descriptions of the product family; the November training disclosure does not list an Israeli purchase of each rocket type.
Boaz Cohen, general manager of Elbit Systems Land & Armaments, presented the center as an integrated, networked training solution. His explanation connects dedicated infrastructure with immersive simulation and continuing cooperation over the contract period. The company is therefore offering an operating training service alongside the equipment it develops and supplies, with instruction and technical support continuing after delivery.
The new Israeli center follows a separate European order for PULS launchers and EXTRA-MR rockets. That export contract and the Israeli training agreement have different customers and purposes.
Readiness Is Part of the Purchase
The project sits within the wider effort to prepare personnel alongside equipment, a theme also reflected in the IDF's planning for surprise war and operational readiness. The new announcement concerns artillery training infrastructure, not a deployment order.
Elbit's November 2 disclosure does not set a public opening date for the center. Its commitment is to develop and deliver the training systems, then provide instruction, maintenance and support throughout the 15 year contract period.
