Elbit Systems, an Israeli military equipment company, inaugurated its drone factory in Chitila, Romania, on Monday (27). The facility aims to produce the company’s Watchkeeper XR drones on European soil.
According to the website Defence Blog, the Chitila facility is the seventh production site that Elbit Systems has established in Romania, adding integrated capabilities for the production, integration, testing, and maintenance of advanced unmanned aerial platforms.
The new factory was developed as part of the Watchkeeper XR program, directly linking its existence to one of Romania’s most significant ongoing military procurement efforts.
“The facility we are inaugurating today is the seventh production site that Elbit has established in Romania — a clear demonstration of our long-term commitment and confidence in the local ecosystem,” emphasized Yoram Shmueli, General Manager of Elbit Systems Aerospace.
According to him, the facility offers much more than just hardware. “What we deliver is not just a platform, but capability: reliable systems, mission-ready, and prepared to operate where and when needed,” added Shmueli.
The Watchkeeper XR is an advanced tactical unmanned aerial system designed for persistent intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions at medium altitude. It carries sophisticated sensor payloads, can operate in contested environments, and is built for long-endurance missions.
By producing this system within Romania, the Romanian Armed Forces gain the ability to handle the entire lifecycle of the drones domestically — from production to integration, testing, and maintenance — an attribute that has become increasingly essential for NATO allied countries.
Photo: Elbit Systems. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
