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Israeli arms firm loses its ‘biggest contract’ as UK revokes Watchkeeper drone contract

Saturday, 23 November 2024 10:42 AM [ Last Update: Saturday, 23 November 2024 10:42 AM ]

Activists from Palestine Action taking action against Israel's weapons trade

Israeli arms company Elbit Systems has lost its largest contract, valued at over $2 billion, following the UK Ministry of Defense’s decision to revoke the Watchkeeper drone project operated by its subsidiary, UAV Tactical Systems (U-TacS).

According to the UK Defense Ministry, plans are in place to retire a fleet of 47 unmanned Watchkeeper drones next year.

While the ministry cited the drones’ “aging” status as the reason for their disposal, initial military projections indicated that the fleet was expected to support the British military through 2042.

Elbit Systems, Israel’s largest weapons manufacturer, has spent over two decades on the Watchkeeper program in collaboration with its partner Thales. The design is based on Elbit’s Hermes 450 drone, which has been marketed as combat-proven due to its deployment against Palestinians.

A spokesperson for Palestine Action stated, “Elbit losing its biggest contract signifies the beginning of the end for the Israeli weapons maker’s presence in this country. Direct action undertaken by hundreds of activists has consistently disrupted the operations of Elbit Systems, leading to significant delays in production as well as damage to weaponry.”

Palestine Action activists due in UK court over raid on Israeli arms firmhttps://t.co/NwItAcOW1m
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Since October 2023, the ongoing Israeli war in Gaza has resulted in nearly 44,100 fatalities, leaving extensive devastation in the besieged territory.

While U-TacS has consistently denied supplying weapons to the Israeli military, their export licenses for goods intended for “military end-use” in Israel indicate otherwise.

Activism by Palestine Action at the U-TacS facility has been ongoing since May 2021, when four protesters stormed the factory, spending six days on the roof.

Earlier this year, Palestine Action succeeded in forcing the permanent closure of another Elbit factory in the UK, despite ongoing arrests and raids.

Palestine Action activists demand Elbit weapons maker shut down

Palestine Action activists spray the ADS group with red paint and shut down the advocate of the world’s largest arms dealers.

The closure marked the third site in the UK the organization has compelled Elbit to shut down.

This is not the first time Elbit has lost Ministry of Defense contracts due to direct action; in 2022, the company had two contracts worth £280 million revoked for failing to meet “operational sovereignty” standards.

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