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 Raid and Dismantle an Israeli Arms Factory in Shenstone
PRESS RELEASE24/01/22FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Palestine Action Strikes Again: Activists take aim at Elbit Systems once more, raiding and occupying their weapons factory in Shenstone. Activists broke into the site at 7.15 this morning, and are occupying the roof,...
Palestine Action target Israeli arms factory in Shenstone days after forcing Elbit out Oldham
PRESS RELEASE 14/01/22 IMMEDIATE RELEASE Activists took action against the factory to disrupt its manufacture of engines and components for Israel's killer drones, and have covered the factory in painted slogans of 'Shut Elbit Down', 'Free Palestine', 'First Oldham,...
Palestine Action Occupy Property Manager of Israel’s Drone Engine Factory
PRESS RELEASE05/07/21FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Palestine Action Occupy Property Manager of Israel's Drone Engine Factory Vine Property Management, trading under the Fisher German banner, has been occupied and shut down by Palestine Action in the morning of the 5th July,...
Palestine Action activists charged with causing £50,000 of criminal damage to Elbit’s weapons factory in Shenstone
Six members of Palestine Action were arrested on Tuesday evening and held for around 40 hours before appearing in courtThey have been charged with causing Elbit Systems £50,000 in damagesAll six have had their homes raided by police in the past 24 hours Before dawn on...
Palestine Action Occupy the Roof of UK-based Israeli Arms Factory Again
On Tuesday morning, activists from the direct-action network climbed on to the roof of Elbit's UAV Engines factory in Staffordshire, smashed the windows and prevented the site from openingActivists chained the factory gates shut to block off all access and splattered...
Palestine Action shuts Elbit down in Shenstone for the third time despite police crackdown
PRESS RELEASE 18th January 2021 For immediate release In the early hours of Monday, several members of Palestine Action chained shut the gates of UAV Engines in Shenstone, locked themselves on to each other and doused the building in red paint; preventing all...