The Israeli Ministry of Defense has taken a significant step in its armored vehicle modernization program by partnering with U.S. defense company Oshkosh Defense to manufacture the hulls of the Eitan 8x8 Armored Personnel Carriers (APCs). The ministry announced the agreement via its official Twitter account, confirming that the deal is worth more than $100 million and will be financed through American aid funds.

Major General Oren Giber, Head of the Tank and Armored Vehicles Directorate at the Israeli Ministry of Defense, described the contract as a critical milestone for the Eitan project. He stated that this cooperation will expand production resources, enabling the delivery of more advanced APCs to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). Furthermore, the agreement could provide the Ministry of Defense and Israeli defense industries with greater opportunities to export Eitan APCs and their integrated systems to international markets.

In 2020, the Israeli Ministry of Defense had announced the start of serial production of the Eitan, which is the first wheeled armored personnel carrier designed and manufactured in Israel. In December 2022, the ministry released footage of the Eitan undergoing tests equipped with the Iron Fist Active Protection System (APS). The ministry also set a target of delivering the first operational Eitan APCs to the IDF’s Nahal Brigade before the end of 2022.

This collaboration not only strengthens Israel’s defense capabilities but also underscores the deepening partnership between the U.S. and Israel in defense production. Additionally, the Eitan project is expected to enhance Israel’s position in the global defense market by boosting the vehicle’s export potential.