FORT WORTH, Texas, May 12, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

Two student teams sponsored by Elbit Systems of America have qualified for this year's Team America Rocketry Challenge (TARC) National Finals, held May 14 in The Plains, Va., outside Washington, D.C.

The teams-including an all-girls' team-represent Lincoln High School, located in Talladega County, Ala. Elbit Systems of America Chief Engineer Denton Marlowe mentors both teams during the school year, leading weekday classroom sessions and weekend rocket launches.

TARC is a key piece of the aerospace and defense industry's strategy to build a stronger U.S. workforce in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). Elbit Systems of America is a national Gold Sponsor of the TARC program, which is administered by the Aerospace Industries Association and the National Association of Rocketry.

Across the United States, 789 teams competed in this year's TARC qualifying round. Students had to design and build rockets that could accommodate a payload of two eggs placed perpendicular to each other. The rockets had to launch successfully, carry their payloads at least 850 feet, and remain airborne between 44 and 46 seconds. As an added challenge, the eggs should not be cracked or broken after the flight. A new challenge awaits the 100 teams that qualified for nationals.

"Our nation's security depends on a skilled aerospace and defense workforce. By supporting STEM education through programs such as TARC, we're introducing students to the A&D industry and inspiring them to pursue the many opportunities this industry provides," said Elbit Systems of America President and CEO Raanan Horowitz.

"I'm thrilled both teams Elbit Systems of America is sponsoring met the rigorous engineering challenge to qualify for the TARC National Finals. Congratulations to the students from Lincoln High School in Alabama. I look forward to following their progress during the competition," Horowitz said.

About Elbit Systems of America, LLC  

Elbit Systems of America is a leading provider of high performance products, system solutions, and support services focusing on the commercial aviation, defense, homeland security, cyber security, and medical instrumentation markets.  With facilities throughout the United States, Elbit Systems of America is dedicated to supporting those who contribute daily to the safety and security of the United States.  Elbit Systems of America, LLC is wholly owned by Elbit Systems Ltd. (NASDAQ and TASE: ESLT), a global electronics company engaged in a wide range of programs for innovative defense and commercial applications. For additional information, visit: http://www.elbitsystems-us.com or follow us on Twitter.

About Elbit Systems  

Elbit Systems Ltd. is an international high technology company engaged in a wide range of defense, homeland security and commercial programs throughout the world. The Company, which includes Elbit Systems and its subsidiaries, operates in the areas of aerospace, land and naval systems, command, control, communications, computers, intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance ("C4ISR"), unmanned aircraft systems, advanced electro-optics, electro-optic space systems, EW suites, signal intelligence systems, data links and communications systems, radios and cyber-based systems. The Company also focuses on the upgrading of existing platforms, developing new technologies for defense, homeland security and commercial applications and providing a range of support services, including training and simulation systems.

For additional information, visit: http://www.elbitsystems.com or follow us on Twitter.

Trademarks 

Elbit Systems of America and other trademarks, service marks and logos are registered or unregistered marks of Elbit Systems of America companies in the United States and in foreign countries. Copyright © 2016 Elbit Systems of America.  All rights reserved.

Forward Looking Statement  

This press release contains forward-looking statements (within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) regarding Elbit Systems Ltd. and/or its subsidiaries (collectively the Company), to the extent such statements do not relate to historical or current fact.  Forward-looking statements are based on management's expectations, estimates, projections and assumptions.  Forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended.  These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve certain risks and uncertainties, which are difficult to predict.  Therefore, actual future results, performance and trends may differ materially from these forward-looking statements due to a variety of factors, including, without limitation: scope and length of customer contracts; governmental regulations and approvals; changes in governmental budgeting priorities; general market, political and economic conditions in the countries in which the Company operates or sells, including Israel and the United States among others; differences in anticipated and actual program performance, including the ability to perform under long-term fixed-price contracts; and the outcome of legal and/or regulatory proceedings.  The factors listed above are not all-inclusive, and further information is contained in Elbit Systems Ltd.'s latest annual report on Form 20-F, which is on file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. All forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this release. The Company does not undertake to update its forward-looking statements.

Contact: Shari Clarkson - +1-682-286-2363  sharon.clarkson@elbitsystems-us.com

SOURCE Elbit Systems of America, LLC