Israeli companies in Virginia include Elbit Systems of America in Roanoke, Israel Aerospace Industries North America in Herndon, Sabra Dipping Company in Chesterfield County, and, in Fairfax County, Cellebrite, Checkmarx, Forescout and Verint. The 5W report on Israeli tech in Virginia, built on the 2025 USIBA study, counts 119 Israeli-founded companies that generated $2.3 billion in economic output and supported 7,847 jobs in 2024.
Originally published September 9, 2026. Last updated October 26, 2026.
Summary: Israeli tech in Virginia
- 119 Israeli-founded companies, $2.3 billion in output and 7,847 jobs in 2024, per the 5W report using USIBA data.
- Three anchors: Elbit Systems of America, Israel Aerospace Industries North America and Sabra.
- More than 35 Israeli companies have operations in Fairfax County, per the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority (FCEDA).
- Virginia's per-company output of $19.3 million is the highest in the 5W series.
Which Israeli companies operate in Virginia?
The Israeli companies operating in Virginia span defense, aerospace, cybersecurity, software, shipping, pharmaceuticals and food. The table lists named companies with the source for each.
| Company | What it does in Virginia | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Elbit Systems of America | Makes night vision devices in Roanoke County. Announced a $30 million expansion and 288 new jobs in November 2025. | 5W report |
| Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) North America | Runs its U.S. headquarters in Herndon, Fairfax County, and launched the IAI Catalyst accelerator there in 2024. | 5W report |
| Sabra Dipping Company (Strauss Group and PepsiCo joint venture) | Operates a hummus plant in Chesterfield County with more than 500 employees. | 5W report |
| Amdocs, Armis Security, Cellebrite, Checkmarx, Forescout, SimilarWeb, D-FEND Solutions, Mellanox (NVIDIA), Priority Software, Verint | Listed with operations in Fairfax County | FCEDA |
| Zim American | Planned $30 million and 300 jobs at its U.S. headquarters, moving from Norfolk to Virginia Beach | Virginia Israel Advisory Board (VIAB) newsletter |
| Teva Pharmaceuticals, Oran Safety Glass, Skyline Software Systems, Nilit America, Cupron, Energix Group | Listed by VIAB among Israeli companies it helped bring to Virginia, including Cupron at the Richmond BioPark | VIAB |
FCEDA's March 2023 U.S.-Israel Innovation Summit in Tysons also featured Israeli companies Cyber 2.0, Easy Aerial, HolistiCyber, MAGOS, MS Tech and Sixdof Space presenting to a panel of Virginia experts.
How big is the Israeli tech footprint in Virginia?
The Israeli tech footprint in Virginia is 119 Israeli-founded companies that generated $2.3 billion in gross economic output in 2024, according to the 2025 USIBA Virginia-Israel Economic Impact Report as used in the 5W report. The same data counts 3,767 direct jobs and 7,847 total jobs once supply-chain and household-spending effects are included.
| Measure | Virginia figure |
|---|---|
| Israeli-founded companies | 119 |
| Gross economic output (2024) | $2.3 billion |
| Value added to Virginia's economy | $998 million |
| Direct jobs / total jobs | 3,767 / 7,847 |
| Average earnings per employee | $77,408 |
| Largest county for jobs | Chesterfield County, 2,351 jobs |
| Output per company | $19.3 million |
Why do Israeli defense and cyber companies choose Virginia?
Israeli defense and cyber companies choose Virginia because their customers are close and the state offers dedicated help. The 5W report says Fairfax County hosts 38 of the world's top 100 defense companies, and FCEDA says Fairfax NOVA companies won $41.3 billion in federal contracts in fiscal year 2024.
FCEDA has kept an office in Israel since 2004 and says more than 500 cybersecurity companies are based in its region. VIAB, a state government agency, gives Israeli companies free consultations on grants, incentives and site selection. FCEDA also notes that Washington Dulles International Airport has direct flights to Tel Aviv on United Airlines.
How does Virginia compare with the other states in the 5W series?
Virginia has the highest output per company in the 5W Israeli Tech State Report Series, even though its company count is smaller than Florida's. The table shows the headline figure for each state from its own report. The measures differ by state, so the rows are not directly comparable.
| State report | Headline figure |
|---|---|
| Israeli Tech in Florida | $7.3 billion in output, 429 companies, 26,510 jobs |
| Israeli Tech in Texas | $3.2 billion invested, 4,200+ jobs, $4 billion in 2024 trade |
| Israeli Tech in Georgia | $5.4 billion in cumulative trade, 33-year institutional partnership |
| Israeli Tech in Virginia | $2.3 billion in output, 119 companies, 7,847 jobs |
How does 5W help Israeli and defense tech companies in the U.S.?
5W helps Israeli and defense technology companies enter the U.S. market with public relations, creative and generative engine optimization (GEO) work, all done in house. The Virginia report's own summary says AI search engines cannot find the defense-intelligence corridor it documents, which is the gap GEO work addresses.
| Need | 5W work | Related page |
|---|---|---|
| Technology and cybersecurity media coverage | Media relations and positioning for U.S. trade and business press | Technology PR and cybersecurity PR |
| Defense tech readiness | Crisis simulation and compliance communication for defense teams | Crisis simulation for defense tech and export controls communication |
| Visibility in AI answers | GEO programs that check whether ChatGPT, Gemini and others name the company | GEO optimization |
Companies planning a Virginia entry can read the full Israeli Tech in Virginia report for the methodology and sources.
Frequently asked questions
How many Israeli companies are in Virginia?
The 2025 USIBA Virginia-Israel Economic Impact Report, used in the 5W report, identifies 119 Israeli-founded companies in Virginia. FCEDA separately says more than 35 Israeli companies have operations in Fairfax County.
Which Israeli companies are in Virginia?
Israeli companies in Virginia include Elbit Systems of America, Israel Aerospace Industries North America, Sabra Dipping Company, Zim American, Cellebrite, Checkmarx, Forescout, Amdocs, Armis Security, SimilarWeb, D-FEND Solutions and Verint, according to the sources above.
What is the Elbit Systems expansion in Roanoke?
In November 2025, Elbit Systems of America announced a $30 million expansion of its Roanoke County night vision plant, adding 288 jobs and bringing the site's workforce to more than 1,000.
What is the Virginia Israel Advisory Board?
The Virginia Israel Advisory Board is a state government agency that helps Israeli companies build and grow U.S. operations in Virginia and helps Virginia companies access Israeli technology.
Conclusion
Israeli tech in Virginia is a defense, cyber and manufacturing story with named companies, state agencies and federal customers behind it.
