Plasan 

Countries that purchased products or services by Plasan:

Also Operates in:
Bulgaria, El Salvador, Nigeria, Poland, Sweden, Ukraine

Main Products:

Guarder, Granit, Stormrider, Wilder

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Plasan 

General Information

Plasan Sasa, established in 1985, develops, manufactures, and assembles custom-built vehicle armor systems and chassis up-armor designs as well as Add-On Armor Protection Kits for lightweight military tactical trucks and APCs [Wheeled & Tracked], for fixed and rotary wing aircraft, commercial vehicles, and is a major supplier of personnel protection armor.

Plasan is a non-public company and is wholly owned by Kibbutz Sasa, a communal village of some 100 families in Northern Israel. It employs 1,300 people, including 650 in the United States and 180 in France.[1]Israeli Company, Hurt by U.S. Troop Withdrawal From Iraq, Pivots and Returns to Profit

Plasan has been a major player in vehicle armor for over 15 years for American forces, that used its armor in Iraq and Afghanistan. The company also sells to police and border guard forces worldwide. A special vehicle built for the military police of Sao Paulo, capable of transporting 24 fighters and equipped with diurnal and nocturnal vision systems, was used during the Olympics in Brazil.[2]Israeli Company, Hurt by U.S. Troop Withdrawal From Iraq, Pivots and Returns to Profit Countries that purchased Plasan vehicles and equipment are among others Greece, Australia, Bulgaria, Colombia, Canada, Mexico, Nigeria and Sweden.

In Germany Plasan Re’em, a subsidiary of Plasan Sasa is partnering with ASC (Armored Speciality Cars) for the development of personal security vehicles.[3]Israeli police purchase armored vehicles from Plasan Re’em [4]ASC Germany Partner Plasan Re’em In the Czech Republic, there is a cooperation with a local company for the production of bullet-proof Škoda Kodiaqs for the local police.[5]Israeli police purchase armored vehicles from Plasan Re’em

Plasan cooperates with Beit Alfa Technologies (B.A.T) on the manufacture of Riot Control Vehicles (RCU6000, RCU Sting 9000).[6]PLASAN’s ARMORED MISSION VEHICLES

In December 2022 Plasan delivered armored medical vehicles to Ukraine, ordered by the Israeli Ministry of Defense.[7]Plasan from Israel delivers to Ukraine first of four armored ambulances

The Sandcat

One of the company’s successes is the SandCat, which can carry up to 11 people and serve for patrol and routine security missions. It’s based on a Ford 550 and weighs 8.5 tons with armor and people on board. Missiles and launchers can be added on; South Korea bought SandCats that it armed with weaponry from Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, the Israeli defense firm.

Plasan sells the vehicle to armies and police around the world: Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Kazakhstan, Mexico, Nigeria, Poland, South Korea, Sweden, Ukraine and the U.S.

In 2011, the Israeli armor manufacturing company Plasan, sold 250 SandCat armored vehicles to the Mexican Ministry of Defense.[8]Plasan wins Mexican defense bid In 2015, the IBN Industrias Militares and Plasan, an Israeli company, agreed to manufacture the SandCat in México.[9]the Israeli Plasan and the Mexican IBN Industries united efforts to establish a production line [10]The Mexican Military Industrial Complex

In 2020 Poland announced that Plasan’s Sandcat vehicle was selected in July 2015 in a tender conducted by the Security Department of the Military Police for the supply of light armored vehicles. In total, 14 were purchased: seven for combat, three for police coordination, one for medical evacuation.[11]Polish Military Police using Plasan’s SandCat light armored vehicle

Plasan developed, designed and delivered 3 unique armor Shipsets for the US Navy DDG1000 Zumwalt-class destroyers.[12]Plasan Protects Troops on the Frontline and Reduces Costs on the Bottom Line

In 2022 Plasan signed a contract with BAE Systems to armor 8 British frigates for the UK Royal Navy. A deal worth several tens of million NIS.[13]Israel’s Plasan to armor British Type 26 frigates for UK Royal Navy

Usage by Israeli Forces

In 1989 Plasan started to manufacture equipment and armored vehicles for the Israeli military and police.[14]Armored Vehicles Haaretz Article Plasan had developed the SandCat in 2005, neglected it to make armor for the U.S. army, then went back to it. Now it sells 12 upgraded versions.[15]Israeli Company, Hurt by U.S. Troop Withdrawal From Iraq, Pivots and Returns to Profit

In Israel the SandCat vehicle is called Caracal. In 2010 Plasan supplied the Israeli Police and border police with Karakal (Sandcat) vehicles.[16]Police and Border Police get new armored vehicle called Karakal  Plasan supplied the Israeli Military with an upgraded version of the SandCat, called Granit. The Granit was used for surveillance missions.[17]Granit the new surveillance vehicke of the IDF

In 2009 an upgraded version of the SandCat, called Granit, was tested by the Israeli army in Gaza, on the Lebanon border and in the West Bank, and was later purchased officialy by the army.[18]New Jeep and drone that will monitor Sinai In 2012 Granit vehicles were also used on the border between Egypt and Israel.[19]New Jeep and drone that will monitor Sinai

In 2022 the Israeli Army purchased in an expedited procedure 50 SandCat EX11 armored vehicles.[20]Plasan Delivers Sandcat EX11 Armored Vehicles to the IDF

Plasan’s subsidiary, Plasan Re’em, manufactures armored vehicles for security coordinators in Jewish settlements in the West Bank. In 2021 the company provided 15 protected vehicles to security coordinators.[21]Israeli police purchase armored vehicles from Plasan Re’em In addition, the company sealed a cooperation with Colmobil, which is the main contractor in the project to replace protected ICU vehicles with new ones in the occupied Palestinian territories.[22]Israeli police purchase armored vehicles from Plasan Re’em

In 2022 the Israel Police ordered 69 armored vehicles from Plasan’s subsidiary Plasan Re’em. The vehicle will be called “Tan” (Jackel) and is expected to enter service in 2023-2024. The vehicle includes firing ports and a weapon station.[23]Israeli police purchase armored vehicles from Plasan Re’em [24]Plasan Reem for Israeli Security Forces It will reportedly be used by the Israeli Police and the Israeli Border Police, especially in the West-Bank and in the area of Jerusalem.[25]Plasan Reem for Israeli Security Forces

Subsidiaries / Acquisitions

Plasan Re’em – Subsidiary of Plasan Sasa, is owned by Plasan and Koby Ben Ari, former senior employee at Plasan.[26]Plasan Reem for Israeli Security Forces Plasan Re’em is located in Dalton Industrial Park and has 53 employees.

PNA – Plasan North America: Established in 2006, located in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Plasan North America (PNA) is a privately held manufacturing company and world class supplier of high-performance metal, composite, and ceramic-composite components for military and commercial applications. Plasan North America offers light weight product solutions and local support to the biggest OEMs in North America.

Amefo Armor Solutions: Established in 1948 (purchased by Plasan group on 2004), located in Chambilly, France, AMEFO is a privately held manufacturing company and has developed, over the years, expertise and know-how of metal and composite solutions for the civil markets and the defense industry.

Plasan Carbon Composites (PCC): a privately held manufacturing company and leading supplier of carbon fiber parts and assemblies in North America. Headquartered in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Tortech Nano Fibers: Founded in 2010 as a joint venture between Plasan Sasa Ltd (Israel) and Q-Flo Ltd (UK), a spin-off from Cambridge University, UK. Tortech is developing a patented process for the manufacture of ultra-long CNT mats non-woven for a wide range of commercial and defense applications. Tortech is located in Maalot Tarshicha, Israel.

Artis: Plasan bought Artis (51% of its shares) in 2012 for $70 million.[27]Plasan purchased ownership of ARTIS

ELVO: In 2020 Greek military vehicle company ELVO was sold to a joint venture between the Israeli companies SK Group and Plasan together with a greek businessman. According to the new outline, Plasan holds 47.6% of the company’s shares, SK Group (through its holding company Naska Industries) has the same share and local businessman Arsitidis Anargyros Glynis has 4.8%. The company will participate in a tender worth 550 million euros to replace the Greek Army’s Steyr trucks and Mercedes-Benz tactical vehicles.[28]SK Group and Plasan acquire Greek military vehicle company

References
1 Israeli Company, Hurt by U.S. Troop Withdrawal From Iraq, Pivots and Returns to Profit
2 Israeli Company, Hurt by U.S. Troop Withdrawal From Iraq, Pivots and Returns to Profit
3 Israeli police purchase armored vehicles from Plasan Re’em
4 ASC Germany Partner Plasan Re’em
5 Israeli police purchase armored vehicles from Plasan Re’em
6 PLASAN’s ARMORED MISSION VEHICLES
7 Plasan from Israel delivers to Ukraine first of four armored ambulances
8 Plasan wins Mexican defense bid
9 the Israeli Plasan and the Mexican IBN Industries united efforts to establish a production line
10 The Mexican Military Industrial Complex
11 Polish Military Police using Plasan’s SandCat light armored vehicle
12 Plasan Protects Troops on the Frontline and Reduces Costs on the Bottom Line
13 Israel’s Plasan to armor British Type 26 frigates for UK Royal Navy
14 Armored Vehicles Haaretz Article
15 Israeli Company, Hurt by U.S. Troop Withdrawal From Iraq, Pivots and Returns to Profit
16 Police and Border Police get new armored vehicle called Karakal
17 Granit the new surveillance vehicke of the IDF
18 New Jeep and drone that will monitor Sinai
19 New Jeep and drone that will monitor Sinai
20 Plasan Delivers Sandcat EX11 Armored Vehicles to the IDF
21 Israeli police purchase armored vehicles from Plasan Re’em
22 Israeli police purchase armored vehicles from Plasan Re’em
23 Israeli police purchase armored vehicles from Plasan Re’em
24 Plasan Reem for Israeli Security Forces
25 Plasan Reem for Israeli Security Forces
26 Plasan Reem for Israeli Security Forces
27 Plasan purchased ownership of ARTIS
28 SK Group and Plasan acquire Greek military vehicle company