Elbit Systems wins $20 mln Israel air force contract

TEL AVIV Feb 22 (Reuters) - Elbit Systems Ltd (ESLT.O) (ESLT.TA) said on Monday it won a follow-on contract worth $20 million from Israel's Defence Ministry for the continuation of the GROB trainer aircraft operation programme.

Under the new contract, Elbit Systems will operate the trainers for an additional 10 years, starting in 2012, following completion of the current programme.

The programme was the Israeli air force's first private finance initiative project. Under the programme, the air force purchases training hours on board Elbit Systems' GROB G-120-AI and Elbit Systems is responsible for the operation and maintenance of the aircraft.

Elbit Systems is Israel's largest non-government owned defence contractor. (Reporting by Tova Cohen; Editing by David Holmes)