Israel took steps to increase munition production long before Operation Roaring Lion and the war with Iran. Now, the MoD is checking up on progress with Elbit Systems, amidst indications the war could extend to other theatres.
By Sam Cranny-Evans, editor of Calibre Defence, published on March 16, 2026.
The Israeli MoD has met with Elbit Systems to discuss progress towards expanding production of aerial munitions. The MoD director general visited an Elbit site and met the company’s leadership, according to a March 9 press release.
The wording of the press release seems important. It said they spoke on:
“Scaling up production rates to meet anticipated defence requirements in support of the ongoing campaign in Iran and the potential for its expansion to additional theaters.”
It added that production of aerial munitions has already been expanded over the past year, which is a sign of how long this war has been in the making. This includes increased domestic production supported by a $183 million contract placed with Elbit in January 2026, and overseas procurement.
The director general, Maj. Gen. (Res.) Amir Baram, said: “Months of preparation and early readiness have enabled the IDF to operate with virtually no constraints in Iran and Lebanon. At the same time, we are now working to replenish all munitions expended to be prepared for any scenario.”
Calibre comment: Lessons learned from the Israel-Hamas war
One lesson for the Israeli MoD from the previous wars, both with Hamas and Iran seems to be magazine depth. It is understood that previous strikes on Iran were curtailed so that Israel could prepare for a longer conflict. And, during the war with Hamas and Hezbollah, Israel began to run low on key munitions, which limited its choices. Presumably, this is one of the lessons that informed the decision to expand production and stockpiles. The MoD press release emphasises aerial munitions, but it is also worth noting that air defence munitions are key. Israel and the US expended a considerable portion of their interceptor stock during the 12 Day War in June 2025. This in turn increased the risk of continued confrontation. Israel brought new air defence systems into service and placed large orders for interceptors following that war, too.
So, close cooperation with the Israeli industry has given Israel the confidence to conduct Operation Roaring Lion. There is a lot that can be learnt here by other MoDs. Close cooperation and good stocks of munitions give a government the confidence to act, but it takes clear orders and demand signals to build that trust.
The lead image shows Maj. Gen. (Res.) Amir Baram visiting an Elbit production site. Credit: Israeli MoD.