Founded in 1966 by Elron, Elbit Systems is the primary provider of the Israeli military's land-based equipment and unmanned aerial vehicles.

[4][5][6] The Minicomputer was successfully sold for civilian use,[7] and in July 1970 the American company Control Data Corporation entered into an agreement to acquire Israel government's interest in 'Elbit Computers' for US$1 million.

[10][11] During the early 1980s the company started to refocus on defense electronics and developed systems and sub-components, among others, for the Lavi fighter jet and for the Merkava tank.

[21][22] In 2016, The Intercept reported that, starting in 2008, the US National Security Agency and UK GCHQ had been tapping into live feeds from Elbit drones (among other Israeli air force equipment) as they were flown on missions by the Israeli military and air force against targets in Gaza, the West Bank, Syria, and Lebanon.

[25] At a press conference to announce the decision, Minister of Finance Kristin Halvorsen said "We do not wish to fund companies that so directly contribute to violations of international humanitarian law".

[26] The Norwegian Ambassador to Israel, Hans Jacob Biørn Lian, was called to a meeting at the Israeli Foreign Ministry where the decision was protested.

"[28] In March 2010, a Swedish pension fund, not wanting to be associated with companies violating international treaties, boycotted Elbit Systems for its involvement in the construction of Israel's West Bank barrier wall.

[36] Elbit Systems and its various subsidiaries provide various technologies for military command, control, communications, intelligence surveillance, and reconnaissance purposes.

As a part of the cooperation between the two states, Elbit Systems opened an office in Azerbaijan in 2011, with plans to build a plant for the joint production of unmanned aerial vehicles.

[43] In 2023, it was reported that Elbit (along with other Israeli defense manufacturers) had played an extensive role in discreetly arming the Azerbaijani army for the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict[44] that culminated in accusations of an Armenian genocide.

[51] In January 2011, Elbit announced that it had bought two additional Brazilian companies: Ares Aeroespecial e Defesa and Periscopio Equipamentos Optronicos.

[52] In April 2011, the Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Embraer entered into a strategic agreement with AEL Sistemas S.A, a subsidiary of Elbit Systems.

According to officials from the two companies, one of the primary goals of the Embraer-majority joint venture was introduce the Elbit Systems Hermes 450 UAV into the service of the Brazilian Air Force.

[54] On December 6, 2017, the Citizen Lab reported that Ethiopian dissidents and journalists in the US, UK, and other countries were targeted by sophisticated commercial spyware, sold and operated by Cyberbit, a wholly owned subsidiary of Elbit Systems.

[56][57] Ronald Deibert, director of the Citizen Lab, said "the findings raised questions about the company's human rights due-diligence practices and processes for preventing misuse of its software.

"[58] In a reply to an inquiry from Human Rights Watch on the topic, Cyberbit did not deny selling this kind of technology, and rejected responsibility for its possible misuse on its customers.

[59] On June 19, 2011, Elbit announced that its subsidiary Elisra Electronic Systems Ltd. was awarded a contract valued at approximately €5 million to supply hundreds of units of its AN/PRC-684 Personal Locator Beacon to the French Ministry of Defense, equipping the French Air Force, Army, Navy and DGA (Direction Générale de l'Armement).

For the German military, Elbit produces the E-LynX SDR radio system, night vision and thermal imaging devices, and Directional Infrared Countermeasure (DIRCM) for the A400M, radar warning receivers, and EW controllers for the CH-53GS/GE.

[62][63] On June 22, 2011, Elbit announced that it was awarded a three-year, US$15 million contract by Elettronica S.p.A. to participate in a program to supply the ELT/572 DIRCM system for installation on various platforms of the Italian Air Force, including the C130J, C27J and AW101.

Itochu ended the partnership in February 2024 on advisement from Japan's foreign ministry following the ICJ provisional order in South Africa's genocide case against Israel.

[66][67] In 2015, the Armed Forces of the Philippines received 114 M113 tracked APCs from the United States,[68] with remote control weapons systems designed by Elbit.

[73][74] On January 24, 2023, Elbit Systems Sweden announced that it was awarded a contract valued at approximately $48 million to equip the Swedish Armed Forces with new mobile tactical communications stations.

[88] Following the 2014 Gaza War, activists from Palestine Action and other groups began protesting outside Ferranti's factory, primarily against Elbit's production of various bombs and other military technology used by the Israeli Air Force and resulting in Palestinian casualties.

[90] During the 2021 Israel–Palestine crisis, on May 19, 2021, four members of Palestine Action dressed in red boiler suits and climbed onto the roof of an Elbit Systems-owned drone factory in Meridian Business Park, Leicester.

[103] In September 2024, the London headquarters of APCO Worldwide was targeted by Palestine Action over its representation of the UK interests of Elbit Systems.

ESA operates under a special security agreement with a proxy board, allowing it to function independently and separately from its parent company.

[2] In 2014, Elbit Systems won a two-year, $12.7 million contract for the supply and provision of Apache Aviator Integrated Helmets for the US Army helicopter fleet.