Elbit Systems Secures First-Ever PULS Deal in South America with Peru

Israeli defense company Elbit Systems has marked a significant milestone in its global expansion with the selection of its PULS (Precise and Universal Launching System) rocket artillery system by Peru’s state-owned military industry, FAME SAC. This is the first time the PULS system will be deployed in South America.

The deal, valued at approximately $60 million, is expected to span six years and includes a comprehensive transfer of knowledge and technology to enable local production of the system within Peru’s defense industrial base. The partnership is designed to position FAME SAC as a potential regional hub for the integration of precision-guided rocket systems.

The agreement covers the delivery of three PULS launcher vehicles, two ammunition loading crane vehicles, one intelligence and reconnaissance vehicle with a range of 100 kilometers, four observation and reconnaissance vehicles, four battery command post vehicles, three group command post vehicles, one electromechanical maintenance workshop vehicle, and a meteorological station. 

Alongside these platforms, the contract includes 90 rockets with a range of approximately 50 kilometers, 12 guided missiles with a range of 140 kilometers (±10 km), and three guided missiles with a range of 290 kilometers (±10 km). Although Peru’s existing fleet of 27 LM90B launchers is not included in the current acquisition, the new system must be fully interoperable with them as well as with the army’s C4I system.

According to the defense outlet ArmyRecognition, Elbit Systems won the competitive tender over Turkey’s Roketsan and China’s Norinco. Roketsan was eliminated in the early stages of the process for failing to provide required documentation on technology transfer and manufacturer credentials. 

In the final round, both Elbit and Norinco met the baseline requirements, but Elbit emerged as the top scorer with 100 points compared to Norinco’s 92. Elbit received full marks across all evaluation categories, including experience in technology transfer, manufacturing capacity, revenue, number of client states, certifications, and its economic proposal, which offered a 10% profit margin. Norinco was downgraded particularly in the client states category and for its lower proposed profitability of 9%.

Elbit’s PULS system has already been procured by countries such as Denmark, the Netherlands, Spain, Kazakhstan, and Rwanda, with confirmed orders from Germany and Serbia. Procurement processes are currently underway in Greece, Norway, the Philippines, Austria, and Bulgaria. 

In several of these markets, including Spain and the Netherlands, the system is being integrated with domestically produced components under industrial cooperation agreements. For the European market, Elbit is jointly developing the EURO-PULS version in collaboration with KNDS.

With Peru as the first South American customer and co-production partner, this deal marks a strategic expansion of Elbit Systems in Latin America and strengthens the country's role as a future regional center for advanced rocket artillery systems.