Editing Elbit Systems (section)

===United Kingdom===
Elbit activities in the United Kingdom started in 1995, when it acquired 
'Alvis UAV Engines Limited' from [[Alvis plc]].<ref name=FG>{{Cite news |title=Alvis Acquired |url=https://www.flightglobal.com/alvis-acquired/15835.article |date=June 19, 1995 |work=[[FlightGlobal]]}}</ref> A company that was founded in 1992 by engineer David Garside, to develop [[Wankel engine]]s for use in UAVs.<ref name=UST>{{Cite journal |title=Dossier – AIE 225CS UAV rotary – Background |journal=Unmanned Systems Technology|url=https://www.ust-media.com/ust-magazine/UST007/54/#zoom=z|page=54 |issue=April/May 2016}}</ref> Garside has been developing Wankel engines since the late 1960s for [[BSA motorcycles]] and later [[Norton Motorcycle Company]],<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://thevintagent.com/2011/11/03/a-short-history-of-wankel-motorcycles/ |title=A Short History of Wankel Motorcycles |date=November 3, 2011 |website=The Vintagent |last=d'Orléans |first=Paul}}</ref> and had the idea of using the engines originally developed for motorcycles, for UAV's that required small but powerful source of power.<ref name=UST /> Elbit, through its subsidiary 'Silver Arrow', was the company's only major customer when it was acquired.<ref name=FG /><ref name=ben>{{Cite news |title=30 Years Later, Israel's 'Central Project' Finally Revealed: Drones |url=https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2022-07-21/ty-article/.highlight/30-years-later-israels-central-project-finally-revealed-drones/00000182-1d0a-d0da-a583-fd8e50bd0000 |last=Benn |first=Aluf |date=July 21, 2022 |work=[[Haaretz]]}}</ref> Since then the company has become a major global supplier of UAV Engines.<ref name=ben />

Its subsidiary 'Elbit Systems UK Ltd.' was incorporated on September 24, 2004, as a holding company for Elbit's activities in the United Kingdom.<ref>{{cite web |title=ELBIT SYSTEMS UK LIMITED Company number 05241591 |url=https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/05241591 |website=[[Companies House]] |access-date=May 16, 2022}}</ref> The company was incorporated after Elbit and French company [[Thales Group]] won a tender (code-named "Watchkeeper program") to supply the [[British Army]] with unmanned aerial vehicles.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Frisch |first1=Felix |title=Elbit Systems to provide UAVs for UK Watchkeeper program |url=https://en.globes.co.il/en/article-816473 |newspaper=Globes|date=July 20, 2004}}</ref> The tender condition included a requirement to set up a local manufacturing facility for the program.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Alon |first1=Ido |title=Elbit and Thales Enter Final Phase of $1.3 Billion British Tender |url=https://www.haaretz.com/1.4859078 |work=[[Haaretz]] |date=February 11, 2003}}</ref> Therefore, at the end of 2005, a joint venture company was established with the Thales Group. The joint venture, named UAV Tactical Systems Ltd (U-TacS), was based in [[Leicester]] and manufactured the [[Watchkeeper WK450]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Elbit-Thales joint venture U-TacS gets $500m order |url=https://en.globes.co.il/en/article-1000023254 |newspaper=[[Globes (newspaper)|Globes]] |date=October 30, 2005}}</ref> A flight testing facility was also set up at [[ParcAberporth]] in Wales.<ref>{{cite news |title=Elbit Hermes makes first flight of large UAV in UK |url=https://en.globes.co.il/en/article-1000009850 |newspaper=[[Globes (newspaper)|Globes]] |date=September 8, 2005}}</ref>

In 2007, Elbit acquired Ferranti Technologies, based in [[Oldham|Oldham, Greater Manchester]], a company that was part of the historic [[Ferranti]] group and provided solutions in the aerospace and defence markets.<ref name="avtoday-ferranti">{{cite news|url=http://www.aviationtoday.com/pressreleases/14288.html|title=Elbit Systems Acquires the UK Company Ferranti Technologies for GBP15 Million (US$31 Million)|date=July 26, 2007|work=Aviation Today|access-date=April 30, 2010|archive-date=September 23, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923181137/http://www.aviationtoday.com/pressreleases/14288.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> Following the [[2014 Gaza War]], activists from [[Palestine Action]] and other groups began protesting outside Ferranti's factory, primarily against Elbit's production of various bombs and other military technology used by the Israeli Air Force and resulting in Palestinian casualties.<ref name="novara">{{cite news |last1=Brown |first1=Rivkah |date=January 11, 2022 |title=After Years of Campaigning Against an Israeli Weapons Factory, It Was Direct Action That Shut It Down |publisher=[[Novara Media]] |url=https://novaramedia.com/2022/01/11/after-years-of-campaigning-against-an-israeli-weapons-factory-it-was-direct-action-that-shut-it-down/}}</ref> Activists particularly cited Elbit's production of the Hermes drone, which was involved in the deaths of at least four Palestinian children.<ref name="the intercept" />

In February 2016, Affinity Flying Services Limited, a joint venture between Elbit and [[KBR (company)|Kellog, Brown and Root]], was awarded a £500{{Nbsp}}million contract to manage the UK Military Flight Training System (UKMFTS) program for the [[Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)|Ministry of Defence]] to deliver aircrew training for over an 18-year period.<ref>{{cite news |date=February 11, 2016 |title=Elbit JV wins $713m UK flight training deal |newspaper=[[Globes (newspaper)|Globes]] |url=https://en.globes.co.il/en/article-elbit-jv-wins-713m-uk-flight-training-deal-1001099941}}</ref>

During the [[2021 Israel–Palestine crisis]], on May 19, 2021, four members of Palestine Action dressed in red [[boiler suits]] and climbed onto the roof of an Elbit Systems-owned drone factory in Meridian Business Park, [[Leicester]].<ref name="bbc">{{cite news |date=May 25, 2021 |title=Leicester pro-Palestinian drone factory protest ends after six days |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-leicestershire-57243045 |access-date=May 27, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Bedford |first1=Corey |date=May 24, 2021 |title=Palestine Action breaks into drone factory during protest |language=en |work=LeicestershireLive |url=https://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/news/leicester-news/palestine-action-protesters-break-leicester-5450737}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Elbit protest: Pro-Palestine activists 'shut down' drone factory |language=en |work=Al Jazeera |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/5/21/pro-palestine-activists-shut-down-uk-drone-factory |access-date=May 27, 2021}}</ref> The [[Occupation (protest)|occupation]] lasted 6 days, and a total of 10 arrests were made for [[Criminal conspiracy|conspiracy]] to commit criminal damage and aggravated [[trespass]].<ref name="bbc" /> Palestine Action group has staged similar occupations of Elbit Systems sites in [[Bristol]],<ref>{{cite news |last1=Cork |first1=Tristan |date=April 13, 2021 |title=Protesters target Israeli arms company in Bristol |language=en |work=BristolLive |url=https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol-news/protesters-target-israeli-arms-company-5295356 |access-date=May 27, 2021}}</ref> [[Oldham]] in collaboration with [[Extinction Rebellion]],<ref>{{cite news |date=February 1, 2021 |title=Elbit: Activists stage protest at Oldham weapons factory |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-manchester-55891683 |access-date=May 27, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Rielly |first1=Bethany |date=February 1, 2021 |title=XR joins forces with Palestinian rights activists to shut down Israeli arms factory in Oldham |language=en |work=[[Morning Star (British newspaper)|Morning Star]] |url=https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/xr-joins-forces-palestinian-rights-activists-shut-down-israeli-arms-factory%C2%A0-oldham |access-date=May 27, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Extinction Rebellion and Palestine Action activists protest Israeli-linked firm |work=Jewish News |url=https://jewishnews.timesofisrael.com/extinction-rebellion-and-palestine-action-activists-protest-israeli-linked-firm/ |access-date=May 27, 2021}}</ref> and [[Tamworth, Staffordshire|Tamworth]]<ref>{{cite news |author=TJAmedia.uk |date=May 25, 2021 |title=Palestine Action Protest of Elite KL Tamworth May 2021 |publisher=YouTube |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L7tJCvDo1Ws |access-date=May 29, 2021}}</ref> in collaboration with [[Animal Rebellion]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Knowles |first1=Justin |date=March 16, 2021 |title=Palestine Action and Animal Rebellion Shut Tamworth Factory |work=Tamworth Informed |url=https://www.tamworthinformed.co.uk/elitekl/ |url-status=dead |access-date=May 27, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210527134655/https://www.tamworthinformed.co.uk/elitekl/ |archive-date=May 27, 2021}}</ref>

Elbit sold its Ferranti subsidiary in 2022 for £9{{Nbsp}}million, approximately £6{{Nbsp}}million less than it had purchased it for fifteen years prior. Activists attributed the sale to their years-long [[direct action]] campaign against Elbit's presence in Oldham.<ref name="novara" />

Elbit opened an advanced manufacturing and development facility in Bristol in July 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |last=DiNardo |first=Georgina |date=2023-07-19 |title=Elbit Systems opens R&D, manufacturing facility in Britain |url=https://www.defensenews.com/industry/2023/07/19/elbit-systems-opens-rd-manufacturing-facility-in-britain/ |access-date=2024-04-04 |website=Defense News |language=en}}</ref> As of 2023, Elbit has multiple UK subsidiaries across sixteen sites in the country, with more than 680 employees.<ref>{{cite news |title=About us |publisher=Elbit Systems UK limited |url=https://www.elbitsystems-uk.com/about-us/vision-mission |access-date=2023-11-22}}</ref> Beginning in October, when the [[Gaza war]] began, several Elbit factories were protested by activists with Palestine Action. At the Instro Precision Factory in [[Sandwich, Kent]], more than 100 people blocked the entrances. In [[Leicester]], several activists climbed on the roof of the Howmet Fastening Systems factory, and a single protester chained themself to the entrance of the U-TacS factory.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Rosane |first1=Olivia |date=October 27, 2023 |title='Stop Arming Israel': Protesters Target Weapons Makers Supplying the Gaza Bombardment |work=Common Dreams |url=https://www.commondreams.org/news/protesters-target-israel-weapons-makers |access-date=October 29, 2023}}</ref>

In 2024, Elbit announced the sale of the 'Elite KL' factory in [[Tamworth, Staffordshire|Tamworth]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bir |first=Burak |date=March 28, 2024 |title=Israeli arms company Elbit 'forced to sell’ Tamworth factory in UK |url=https://www.aa.com.tr/en/europe/israeli-arms-company-elbit-forced-to-sell-tamworth-factory-in-uk/3177877 |access-date=2024-04-01 |website=AA}}</ref>

In September 2024, the London headquarters of [[APCO Worldwide]] was targeted by [[Palestine Action]] over its representation of the UK interests of Elbit Systems.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.gbnews.com/news/pro-palestine-protesters-apco-worldwide-london-israel-weapons |title=Pro-Palestine activists descend on London as vandals target ANOTHER building with red paint amid Israel weapons row |website=gbnews.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/palestine-action-activists-blockade-and-spray-paint-lobbyists-for-israeli-arms-firm |title=Palestine Action activists blockade and spray paint lobbyists for Israeli arms firm |work=morningstaronline.co.uk}}</ref>