Annapolis Junction firm to build Trump wall prototype

ELTA North America, an Israeli-owned defense manufacturer with U.S. headquarters in Annapolis Junction, is one of four companies awarded contracts Thursday to build prototypes for the wall President Donald Trump wants to build on the U.S. border with Mexico. The prototypes announced Thursday by U.S. Customs and Border Protection are for four seethrough walls. Last week, it announced contracts for prototypes for four concrete walls. The eight prototypes will cost a total of $3.6 million and will be built in San Diego, probably this fall. The other three companies announced Thursday are Caddell Construction Co. of Montgomery, Ala.; KWR Construction Inc. of Sierra Vista, Ariz.; and W. G. Yates & Sons Construction Co. of Philadelphia, Miss. The wall was a signature issue in Trump’s campaign last year. He promised that Mexico would pay for it, but Mexico has refused. He is pushing Congress to fund it, but faces strong opposition from Democrats. ELTA North America opened a new, 21,500-square-foot headquarters facility in Annapolis Junction in May. The radar manufacturer works on Israel’s “Iron Dome” anti-missile system and has been involved in developing responses to drones. ELTA is owned by Israel Aerospace Industries.