JERUSALEM, Jan 7 (Reuters) - Israel's Defence Ministry

said on Tuesday it had signed deals worth around $275 million

with the country's largest domestic private arms maker Elbit

to make heavy bombs and raw materials needed for

defence, reducing dependence on imports.

"These strategic agreements are crucial for enhancing the

Israel Defence Force's operational endurance and force build-up

capabilities," it said, describing the need to reduce dependence

on imports as "a central lesson" from the war in Gaza.

Under one agreement, Elbit will supply the military with

thousands of heavy air munitions. The second deal would

establish a plant to produce raw materials previously sourced

mainly from abroad. The ministry did not specify the raw

materials but suggested they were used to make munitions.

"Today, we are laying the foundations for expanding

manufacturing independence in two critical areas for the IDF's

operational sustainability - domestic production of heavy air

munitions and establishing a national raw materials plant," said

Eyal Zamir, director general of the defence ministry.

"Both agreements will ensure sovereign capability in

producing bombs and munitions of all types.​​​​​"

Some Western governments have publicly expressed

reservations about supplying arms to Israel during the war in

Gaza. U.S. President Joe Biden paused shipments of some bombs

last year over concern they would be used in built-up areas.

Zamir said that the move toward domestic production was

initiated before the Hamas attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, but

the war that followed had accelerated the plans.

Elbit chief executive Bezhalel Machlis said the

company was "committed to making a substantial contribution to

strengthening the (Israel Defence Forces') munitions

independence".

($1 = 3.6166 shekels)