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 crashes gates of Israeli arms factory, disrupting combat drone production
PRESS RELEASE 03/10/2022 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Photos are free to use, with credit to Vladimir Morozov: https://bit.ly/UAVShenstone This morning, two vans were ploughed into the gates of the Shenstone UAV Engines factory, with six activists swiftly locked-on to the...
Activists Unlawfully Arrested in Raids on Palestine Action Camp
PRESS RELEASE11/09/22FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEPictures are free to use, with credit to Martin Pope: bit.ly/UAVSaturdayPhotos Yesterday, just hours before a protest at UAV Engines (owned by Elbit Systems), headed by rapper Lowkey, police raided and dismantled the...
Israeli Drones Factory ‘UAV Engines’ Sees Gates Barricaded by Palestine Action
PRESS RELEASE 07/09/2022 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Photos are free to use, with credit to Martin Pope Activists have positioned two cars outside the gates of Israeli weapons company Elbit’s ‘UAV Engines’, initiating an in-car lock-on, throwing paint and refusing to...
Palestine Action Camp Growing in Opposition to Shenstone’s Israeli Drones Factory
PRESS RELEASE01/09/22FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEPictures are free to use, with no credit needed: bit.ly/PalCampPhotos Activists from Palestine Action continue to hold their ground six days after they set up camp outside one of Elbit Systems' (Israel's largest arms...
Palestine Action Scale Trees & Occupy the Ground Beneath to Uproot Israel’s Arms Factory in Shenstone
PRESS RELEASE27/08/22FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEPictures are free to use, with no credit needed. Palestine Action have scaled the surrounding trees and set up a secondary ground camp outside Elbit Systems — Israel’s largest arms company also known as UAV Engines, declaring...
Work at UAV Engines LTD. Disrupted, Palestine Action Takes On Kill Chain
PRESS RELEASE23/08/22FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEPictures are free to use, with credit needed. This morning, three activists turned to Elbit's UAV Engines LTD., locking on at the gates, barring entry to the Israeli drone factory. The factory produces engines for drones...