U.S. subsidiary of Israeli defense manufacturer expanding in Roanoke County

Elbit Systems of America is investing $30 million in an expansion of its Roanoke County manufacturing facility, which produces low-light night-vision devices for the defense industry, in a project that will add 288 new jobs, bringing the site’s workforce to more than 1,000 employees.

The Fort Worth, Texas,-based company is the U.S. subsidiary of the Israeli global military technology company Elbit Systems Ltd, which employs more than 30,000 people worldwide, including 3,600 in the U.S.

As you can guess, being based in Israel – and acknowledged as a key player in the Israeli defense industry; the company has referred to itself as the “backbone” of the IDF drone fleet – Elbit Systems has faced frequent protests at its facilities in the U.S. and the UK for the Israeli military’s doings in Gaza.

Elbit, in September, per reporting from The Guardian, abruptly closed a UK facility that had been the focus of repeated protests.

Two U.S. locations, in Massachusetts and New Hampshire, have also been targeted by protestors.

I’m not finding anything online about any record of protests of the Roanoke County facility.

“Elbit America’s continued growth in Roanoke County strengthens America’s defense capabilities and supports our brave service members at home and abroad,” said our MAGA governor, Glenn Youngkin, in a statement. “This expansion will create nearly 300 new jobs and increase production of the high-quality night vision systems our military relies on every day. With Virginia’s strategic location, business-friendly environment, and robust veteran workforce, Elbit America is poised for continued success and growth in the Commonwealth.”

The company is set to get $1.5 million from state taxpayers toward the project: $1.2 million from a grant from the Commonwealth’s Opportunity Fund, and $300,000 from the Virginia Investment Performance Grant program.

“The need for highly sophisticated night vision systems is growing in the U.S. and abroad, as militaries modernize their technologies to heighten situational awareness and successfully operate in all conditions. As one of the few manufacturers who produce image intensification tubes and these military grade systems, we must grow to keep up with demand,” said Erik Fox, senior vice president and general manager of the warfighter systems division at Elbit Systems of America.