UAV Engines Ltd
UAV Engines Ltd (UEL) is an Elbit subsidiary located in Shenstone, in the Midlands. It designs and makes engines for drones. The company states that it makes the “engines for various size tactical UAVs, target drones and single mission platforms.” Three out of five of UEL’s directors are Israeli. UEL was the first Elbit factory in Britain to be targeted by Palestine solidarity activists, and has been shut down by protesters dozens of times.
Engine of the Hermes 450 Drone
The factory is a crucial subsidiary of Elbit because it produces the engine to the Hermes 450 drone. Whilst once a surveillance drone which provided the Israeli military with targeting information, the Hermes 450 has since been equipped to carry missiles. It is said to be the ‘backbone’ of the IOF’s spying and targeting missions. It was used to bomb targets, including people, in the 2014 assault on Gaza.
The British army also relies on the Hermes 450, and has used it extensively in Afghanistan and Iraq. The British army has used Hermes 450 extensively in Afghanistan and Iraq, and was flown for more than 86,000 hours in total in both countries.
Engine of the Watchkeeper Drone
UEL also provides the engine for Britain’s Watchkeeper drone, which is based on the Hermes 450 (which has been “battle-tested” on the Palestinian people) and is produced by Elbit and French arms company Thales. The Watchkeeper has worked alongside the Hermes 450 to cause devastation in Afghanistan. The British government has ordered a total of 54 Watchkeepers.
Actions
Palestine Action Activist Remanded in Custody After Christmas Day Action
Images available are free to use, with relevant credit Following Palestine Action’s Christmas Day action, against Elbit’s UAV Engines Shenstone drone factory, an activist has been remanded in custody. The activist, Bryn, was arrested on Christmas Day, at the...
On Christmas Day, Palestine Action Break the Walls of Elbit’s UAV Engines Shenstone Drone Factory
Images and videos available are free to use, with relevant credit From 12.30PM on Christmas day, Palestine Action begun breaking through the walls of Elbit's UAV Engines' (UEL) Shenstone drone factory. Palestine Action have repeatedly targeted the Lynn Lane production...
Activists set up camp to shut down Elbit Shenstone
Images & videos of today’s actions, free to reproduce, can be accessed via Dropbox
Activists have set up camp at the premises of Elbit Systems’ UAV Engines, Shenstone, increasing pressure on the Israeli drone manufacturer which has today found its weapons-sights factory in Kent, and the offices of its major shareholder Scotiabank, shut down by Palestine Action
Palestine Action Shut Down Elbit Shenstone: Drone Engine Makers Occupied Again
This morning, activists from Palestine Action returned once again to Staffordshire to inflict a blow to Israel’s arms trade, by shutting down the factory responsible for making their drone engines. As the death toll from the genocidal campaign being waged against Gaza surpasses 30,000, activists have this morning locked themselves to the gates of the factory on Lynn Lane, WS140DT, preventing all entry and operations to render the site redundant and unable to manufacture weaponry for war crimes.
Palestine Action Shut Down Elbit’s Bristol HQ and Shenstone Weapons Factory
Images and videos are available for free, with the relevant credit Shutting down both Elbit's Shenstone weapons factory and their Bristol Headquarters, Palestine Action are occupying the roof of UAV Engines Ltd. (UEL), and blockading the private road leading to...
Palestine Action Strikes Israeli Weapons Factory and Its Property Agents
Palestine Action pulled alongside Elbit UAV Engines in Shenstone in a large van on Sunday 27th November. Activists leapt from inside the vehicle to begin spraying the building's outer bricks with indelible ink, while the driver locked-on to the vehicle itself to hold...