• The UK MoD will decommission 47 Watchkeeper drones, derived from Elbit Systems, resulting in a $2.1 billion loss for the Israeli arms company.
• Palestine Action targeting Elbit’s UK facilities hailed the contract termination as a pivotal step in curbing the company’s operations in the UK.
Israeli arms manufacturer Elbit Systems stands to lose a substantial $2.1 billion following the United Kingdom’s decision to decommission a fleet of drones produced and supplied by the company.
According to the British Ministry of Defence, the UK intends to phase out 47 Watchkeeper unmanned aerial vehicles next year. These drones are produced at UAV Tactical Systems, an Elbit Systems subsidiary located in Leicester, in England’s Midlands. The Watchkeeper platform is derived from Elbit’s Hermes 450 model, which has been promoted as “combat-proven” due to its deployment in operations targeting Palestinian civilians.
Since the escalation of Israel’s military campaign in Gaza last year, Palestine Action has systematically targeted Elbit Systems’ facilities and headquarters throughout the UK, including UAV Tactical Systems. Their unwavering mission has been to confront and dismantle the mechanisms enabling Israel’s ongoing genocide in Gaza.
“Elbit losing its biggest contract signifies the beginning of the end for the Israeli weapons maker’s presence in this country,” a spokesperson for Palestine Action stated on Friday.
The decision marks a significant blow to Elbit’s operations in the UK amidst growing resistance from advocacy groups and scrutiny of its ties to military operations in the region.
