Elbit, Israel defense company wins contract to upgrade air force plane HAIFA, Israel, Jan. 15 (UPI) -- Elbit, Israel's defense electronic company, signed a contract with Israel's defense ministry to upgrade the air force's Hercules transport aircraft. A statement released by the company Wednesday said the contract valued at approximately $15 million is to upgrade the Israeli air force's Hercules transport planes and will take two years to complete. The upgrade will allow the aircraft to meet stringent international standards of Communications Navigation and Surveillance/Air Traffic Management systems and operate in commercial airspace, the company said. Yoram Shmuely, the company's director general, said the company is proud to supply the Israeli air force with new capabilities. "We have witnessed a growing demand for operability of transport aircraft in commercial air space and trust that further customers will require capabilities for their transport fleets," he said in the statement.