Israeli weapons firm set to close UK wing

A British weapons firm owned by the Israeli government is set to shut down, Declassified can reveal.

RUK Advanced System Ltd is registered in London, but records show it is a subsidiary of Israel’s state owned arms giant, Rafael.

The closure comes after an investigation by Declassified in July, which found the company had donated at least £1,499 to “partner” with a cross-party group of MPs.

The All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Defence Technology accepted the money despite rules that ban funding “directly or indirectly” from a foreign government.

Westminster authorities subsequently launched an inquiry into the APPG’s chairman, Tory MP Dr Neil Shastri-Hurst – and the group quickly disbanded.

At the time, RUK Advanced Systems Ltd did not respond to a request for comment – but its website was taken down less than 12 hours after being contacted by Declassified.

Now, the firm has filed a so-called “First Gazette” notice to Companies House, which initiates the process of closing it.

A source claimed the closure is not linked to Declassified’s investigations, but no official reason has yet been given.

‘UK manufacturer’

Questions have also been raised over the true nature of RUK’s work, and its presence in the UK.

The company claimed to be a “UK manufacturer”, with products “made in UK”. Its website advertised a range of military equipment, including urban combat missiles and “hard kill” torpedoes.

But Declassified could not find any evidence that the company had manufacturing facilities.

The address given in official company documents is a service address, with no RUK staff present.

We eventually tracked the company to a tiny building on a technology park in Farnborough, which appeared to just be an office.

Searches of LinkedIn also failed to identify a single RUK employee with a physical manufacturing role.

Meanwhile, Rafael’s website claimed that its “UK representative” was a company called ERCAS-BV and gave an address in central London.

But when Declassified visited the office, the entire building was closed due to construction work – and even the letterbox was secured shut. Workers on site told us the building had been out of service for several years.

Rafael still owns the Newcastle-based firm Pearson Engineering.

Rafael has been approached for comment.