UAV Tactical Systems
UAV Tactical Systems is an Israeli-French drone company based out of a factory at Unit F, Meridian East, Meridian Business Park, Leicester, LE19 1WZ, U.K. The factory is used for design, testing, and manufacture of drones sold to the British army, Israel and international arms markets.
Watchkeeper Drone
UAV Tactical Systems’ flagship product is the Watchkeeper drone, made for the British Army and Border Force. Having racked up 100,000 hours of service in Iraq and Afghanistan, the Watchkeeper was originally modelled on Israel’s Elbit-made Hermes drones, which have been extensively deployed in operations against Gaza. By commissioning the Watchkeeper, the British government is thereby buying technology that claims to be ‘field-tested’ on Palestinians, while the Elbit CEO boasted of the ‘collaboration with the Israeli and UK governments‘ made possible through the Watchkeeper programme.
UAV TACTICAL SYSTEMS ARMS ISRAEL
The UAV Tactical Systems factory is directly supplying the Israeli military. Data to 2021 shows that the company holds export licenses for the sale, to Israel, of drones systems, target acquisition/surveillance systems, electronics equipment, and other military technologies. Freedom of Information disclosures show the company supplies Israel with infrared or thermal imaging equipment, and components for military grade ground vehicles.
We also know that the UAV Tactical Systems site has been used for projects operating the Hermes class of drones, on behalf of both the British military and for the United Nations. This drone is notorious for its deployments against Palestinians, used for surveillance, bombings, and targetted assasinations. Having been Israel’s ‘worst kept secret‘ for years, the Israeli military recently admitted that its Hermes drones are outfitted with explosives and munitions, and it is likely that parts for these drones are what comprise the many ML10-categorised exports that UAV Tactical Systems holds for the sale to Israel.
The UAV Tactical Systems site is therefore intimately tied to Israel’s drone warfare operation in two ways. On one hand, it is fuelling Israel’s drone programmes directly through the provision of hardware for Israel’s Hermes. While on the other hand, it further profits from these operations by repackaging and selling Israeli drones under the Watchkeeper brand.
Actions
Elbit Drone Factory Landlords Cut Ties: U-TacS Site Sold at Cut-Price
Images are available for free, with the relevant credit LondonMetric, the landlords of Elbit's 'UAV Tactical Systems' drone factory, has sold the site on after a targeted direct action campaign calling on them to cut ties with Israel's largest weapons company. After...
Elbit Systems UK loses its biggest contract with the Ministry of Defence
Elbit Systems UK has lost its largest-ever British arms contract, worth over £2.1bn [1], after the Ministry of Defence scrapped its Watchkeeper drone programme with Elbit subsidiary UAV Tactical Systems (U-TacS) [2]. Elbit, Israel's largest weapons company, had spent...
Palestine Action smash into and occupy Elbit’s Leicester drone factory
Several activists from Palestine Action targeted Elbit’s Leicester drone factory, UAV Tactical Systems. One contingent smashed through the fence and into the weapons manufacturer using an article lorry, which two activists have climbed on top off. Simultaneously, another contingent scaled the building and are currently occupying the roof of the Israeli drone maker.
Palestine Action Blockades Elbit Drone Factory in Leicester
Images and videos are available for free, with no credit needed At 7AM, activists with Palestine Action blockaded the way in to UAV Tactical Systems (U-TacS) in Meridian East Business Park. Two people have attached themselves to a modified van on one side of the road...
Palestine Action crashes into Leicester’s Israeli drone factory
Just 12 hours after the Israeli regime massacred at least 500 wounded, starving, and displaced Palestinians in Gaza’s Al-Ahli Arabi Baptist Hospital in a targeted missile strike, activists have breached and shut down the Leicester factory of Israel’s drone supplier Elbit, outfitters of the Israeli military regime.
Palestine Action Blocks Sewage Pipes of Leicester’s Israeli Weapons Factory
Images are available and free to use: bit.ly/PipesPictures Two days ago, Palestine Action blocked the sewage pipes leading to Leicester's Israeli weapons factory, UAV Tactical Systems (U-TacS). In a new tactic, activists used concrete and other materials to...