Israeli arms firm returns after Westminster scandal

A British weapons firm owned by the Israeli government has been brought back to life, after its lobbying activities were exposed by Declassified last year. RUK Advanced System Ltd is registered in London, but records show it is a subsidiary of Israel’s state owned arms giant, Rafael. In October, documents were filed with Companies House to shut the business down, following our investigation. But it’s now been revived – and claims to be supplying British armed forces. Last year, we revealed how RUK pumped money into the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Defence Technology, which promised “opportunities to network with MPs”. Our investigation triggered an inquiry by Westminster authorities, which confirmed that parliamentary rules had been breached. The inquiry found that the donation had been part of a “PR and marketing campaign” by RUK, which “resulted in a foreign government temporarily part-funding” the group of MPs. The APPG quickly disbanded, while RUK deleted its website. Documents were later filed for the company to shut down. But the application has since been withdrawn and RUK’s website has now re-appeared. Labour MP John Trickett told Declassified: “It is extremely concerning that a company owned by a foreign government was able to fund a British parliamentary group. The Standards Commissioner was right to take action.” He added: “Now this company has returned, there should be full transparency about its operations in this country.” Tried and tested Products advertised include missiles with “unprecedented” lethality and a defence system for tanks which has been tried and tested in combat “along Israel’s borders”. The company’s website says: “We deliver the most technologically sophisticated, operationally powerful, precisely-adapted, and cost-effective solutions to fill the unique combat requirements of the British MOD and Armed Forces.” However, questions remain over the nature of the business and where it is based. RUK says its products are “made in the UK” and submitted evidence to Parliament last year describing itself as “a UK manufacturer”. But our investigation last year found no evidence that the company had any manufacturing facilities in the UK. The address given in official company documents is a service address, with no RUK staff present. And when we eventually tracked the company to a tiny building on a technology park in Farnborough, it appeared to simply be a small office. The latest financial accounts, from 2024, show that it only employed five people at that stage – and at least some of these individuals have since left the company. Searches of LinkedIn have failed to identify any current employees at all, except for the director, Yoram Aldo Aron. Neither Aron, nor Rafael, responded to Declassified’s request for comment.