Introduction
Israel – UK Relations
Diplomatic relations between the UK and Israel were founded in 1949. The British embassy to Israel is located in Tel Aviv and the Israeli embassy is located in London.
In 1998 Israel and the UK established the Britain-Israel Joint Technology Investment Fund (BRITECH) with an initial $25m investment from each country.[1]Britain-Israel Relations: Britain-Israel Joint Technology Investment Fund (BRITECH) In 2008 the Britain-Israel Research and Academic Exchange (BIRAX) was founded.[2]Britain-Israel Relations: Britain-Israel Research & Academic Exchange Partnership (BIRAX) In 2015 new bilateral research and development programs were announced. Israel’s Science, Technology, and Space Ministry announced $1.5 million NIS in funding for bilateral research on water, agriculture, nanotechnology, and medicine.[3]UK-Israel Relations
The UK and Israel have a double taxation treaty.[4]Israel: tax treaties Tax treaties and related documents between the UK and Israel. There are over 300 Israeli companies operating in the UK representing sectors including high tech, pharmaceutical and finance. In 2017 the UK was Israel’s number one destination for investment in Europe. Bilateral trade between the UK and Israel reached in 2018 a record high of over $10bn. Israeli exports totaled $4.3 billion, an increase of 21 percent since 2012.[5]UK-Israel Relations The UK imports pharmaceutical products, plastic products, machinery and mechanical appliances, electrical machinery and equipment, and fruit and vegetables.[6]UK-Israel Relations
The UK-Israel Tech Hub, based in the British Embassy in Israel, has fostered 175 tech partnerships and 54 deals worth a total of $112m since its inception in 2011. In 2018 an agreement was signed to expand scientific cooperation between Israel and Britain.
Military Relations
In 1982 the UK imposed an arms embargo on Israel in response to the invasion of Lebanon which was only to be lifted in 1994.[7]Britain lifts arms embargo against Israel
Arms sales, mainly from Rafael and Elbit, to the UK increased in 2006-2012 for British use in Afghanistan and Iraq.
The UK also uses the Watchkeeper UAS which is modelled on the Elbit Hermes 450 and is produced through a joint venture of Elbit and Thales UK in a contract priced at £800-million. In 2005, the UK announced that it would buy new drones based on the Hermes 450 design. As a result, Elbit formed the U-TacS partnership (of which it owns a 51% stake) with French company Thales to supply 54 Watchkeeper drones to the Ministry of Defense. Although, on the face of it, the Watchkeeper is a reconnaissance drone, it has been displayed in several arms fairs bearing missiles. There is no evidence, however, that the UK has deployed it armed.[8]Watchkeeper drones cost taxpayers £1bn
Since 2016, Elbit has run a joint venture called Affinity Training with US company KBR. Affinity has a flight training school at RAF Cranwell in Lincolnshire in the UK, partnering with the MoD to train British pilots.[9]Affinity Official Website [10]Elbit Systems, KBR win 500 million pound UK Defence Ministry contract Affinity’s contract with the MoD is worth £500m over 18 years.[11]Elbit Systems, KBR win 500 million pound UK Defence Ministry contract In 2017, the company also entered into an agreement with Babcock International, a British multinational, to establish a joint company to deliver another training program to the MoD. The plan was to deliver outsourced training to the air force over a fifteen year period.[12]Elbit Systems and Babcock International Partner to Pursue UK MOD’s ASDOT Programme
In 2017, the UK bought an Israeli defense system known as the Sky Sabre, that is based on technology developed for the Iron Dome, for $92.3 million to help defend the Falkland Islands off the coast of Argentina.[13]UK to Buy ‘Sky Sabre’ Missile Shield for $92 Million to Protect Falkland Islands In 2018 the UK Ministry of Defense announced the purchase of six anti-drone systems developed by Rafael, in a deal valued at $20 million total.[14]Rafael to sell 6 anti-drone systems to UK for $20m
In November 2017, the head of Britain’s armed forces, Air Chief Marshal Sir Stuart Peach officially visited Israel to discuss future military cooperation.[15]Momentum for Strengthening UK-Israel Relationship? In December 2020 the Israeli Army and the British Armed Forces signed a Defense-Relations agreement, which details are secret.[16]IDF, British Armed Forces sign defense relations agreement
In recent years, Israeli defense companies have significantly expanded their arms sales to the United Kingdom, supplying a range of advanced military technologies. Elbit Systems, has been at the forefront of these deals. Elbit Systems UK had in 2019 nine production sites and offices in the UK. Between 2018-2020 Britain’s Ministry of Defense has bought £46-million worth of military equipment from Elbit.[17]Ties that bind: Britain buys £46m of Israeli military equipment and stations troops in Israel
In 2019 Elbit was awarded a $38M contract from the UK MoD to supply joint fires synthetic training systems.[18]Armada International, Elbit Systems UK Subsidiary Awarded $38 Million Contract from the UK MoD to Supply Joint Fires Synthetic Training Systems, 20.09.2019 In 2020, Elbit provided the UK forces with the IronVision system, a x-ray vision technology designed for armored vehicles,[19]Globes, Elbit’s X-ray vision to be built into new UK battle tank, 26.01.2020 That same year, the UK’s Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) awarded Elbit a contract worth nearly £1 million to develop and demonstrate unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for coastal surveillance, specifically to track migrants along British shores.[20]Wires, The UK is spending big on migrant-tracking drones to surveil the seas, 12.08.2020 [21]Express, ‘Serious questions!’ Concern as UK Coastguard project linked with ‘conflict drones’, 05.06.2020
Two years later, in 2022, the UK acquired Elbit’s Laser Warning System (ELAWS). [22]Israel Defense, Elbit to supply laser warning systems to Challenger 3 tanks, 29.09.2022 More recently, in 2023, the company awarded contracts to deliver Magni-X micro-Uncrewed Aerial Systems (micro-UAS)[23]Israel Defense, Elbit Systems UK To Deliver Magni-X UAS For British Army, 14.01.2023, 90 ground-based surveillance radar systems[24]Israel Defense, Elbit UK to deliver ground-based surveillance radars to British Army, 23.05.2023, and Ground Manoeuvre Synthetic Trainer (GMST) systems[25]Israel Defense, Elbit Systems awarded $71 million contract with British Army, 09.05.2023. In 2025, Elbit was awarded a £16M contract to deliver XACT nv33 compact night vision goggles to the British armed forces, in addition to over 3,500 NVGs already delivered[26]Israel Defense, Elbit Systems UK Secures £16 Million Contract for Night Vision Goggles, 30.01.2025. In 2026 it was reported Elbit Systems UK (ESUK) has completed supplying the British Army with artillery and mortar simulators, and that a number of training courses have been successfully conducted.[27]Janes, Elbit Systems UK artillery simulators in use by British Army, 21.04.2026
Rafael Advanced Defense Systems had also signed two arms deals with the UK in 2023 alone. A £20M deal to provide the UK with the TROPHY Active Protection System (APS), for its Challenger 3 tanks.[28]Israel Defense, UK to Integrate Rafael’s Trophy Active Protection System into Challenger 3 Tanks, 16.07.2023 Another deal was signed with Rafael’s fully owned subsidiary, Pearson Engineering (that was purchased in 2022[29]Israel Defense, Rafael acquires Pearson Engineering as part of its strategic expansion in the UK, 29.09.2022) to manufacture mission modules for UK army’s BOXER mechanised infantry vehicle.[30]Israel Defense, Rafael UK Subsidiary to Manufacture Mission Modules for UK Army’s BOXER, 14.09.2023
Other Israeli companies had also contributed to the growing Israeli military and security exports to the UK. In 2021 IAI was awarded a contract by the British Ministry of Defense to deliver four “Jaguar” remote patrol vehicles (RPVs).[31]Israel Defense, IAI to supply remote patrol vehicles to British Army, 30.08.2021 In 2022, IAI signed a MoU with Babcock to provide a deep-find radar solution for the UK Ministry of Defense’s SERPENS program.[32]Express, UK signs defence deal with Israel for ‘next generation’ radar to track Putin threats. 12.08.2022[33]Israel Defense, IAI to collaborate with Babcock on radar solution for UK SERPENS Program, 13.08.2022 In 2022 Plasan was contracted to supply composite armor for five Type 26 frigates, in addition to three already delivered.[34]Israel Defense, Israel’s Plasan to armor British Type 26 frigates for UK Royal Navy, 17.12.2022 In 2023 Bagira Systems won simulator project [35]Israel Defense, Bagira Systems wins UK simulator project, 25.02.2023 and SmartShooter was awarded a contract to supply Smash fire control systems for the UK army.[36]Israel Defense, SMARTSHOOTER to Supply Hundreds of SMASH C-sUAS Systems to British Army, 29.06.2023 BriefCam and Corsight AI, Israeli companies specialising in surveillance, sold their products to the British police in 2024.[37]BriefCam, Analytics in Action: Boosting Investigation Efficiency for Cumbria Police, 19.09.2024[38]Security Journal UK, Essex Police deploys facial recognition from Corsight AI, 03.09.2024 The Israeli XTend was awarded a £1.93 million order by the UK’s Ministry of Defense, followed by the company announcing launch of a new robotics production facility in Swindon.[39]Israel Defense, XTEND Expands Into UK With New Robotics Facility Following Defense Order, 24.05.2026
The UK also exports a large volume of weapons to Israel. Between 2015-2020 the UK exported weapons for $445-million to Israel.[40]Britain’s relationship with Israel is thriving, but must be defended in an increasingly hostile climate [41]The raw truth about the UK’s special relationship with Israel [42]UK Export Licence Data
Joint Training
In 2016 and 2017 Britain and Israel conducted joint naval exercises and in 2018 British and Spanish warships conducted a joint NATO-Israel naval exercise in Israel.[43]The raw truth about the UK’s special relationship with Israel
In 2019 Israeli, American and British F-35 combat fighters conducted a joint exercise. In another joint combat exercise in Britain, the IAF and the RAF cooperated with the German and Italian air forces.[44]In First, U.K. Confirms F-35 Exercise With Israel, and Sorties in Iraq, Syria [45]UK-Israel Relations
In 2020 Elbit demonstrated Seagull USV (unmanned surface vessel) capabilities in anti-submarine warfare trials of the UK MOD.[46]Elbit Systems UK Demonstrated USV Capabilities in Anti-Submarine Warfare Trials of the UK MOD
Police
In 2019 Neil Basu, head of counter-terrorism for britain’s national police addressed an arms fair in Israel.
Britain’s National Police Air Services (NPAS) participated in trials of drones, produced by Elbit in 2019, as part of their plans to use military-grade drones to pursue suspects and monitor protests.[47]Home Office Plans To Use Military-Grade Drones To Pursue Suspects And Monitor Protests Are Raising Privacy Concerns [48]Ties that bind: Britain buys £46m of Israeli military equipment and stations troops in Israel
Cellebrite has been contracted by several police forces: Police Scotland, Leicestershire Police, Sussex Police, Gloucestershire Constabulary, Cumbria Police and South Wales Police.[49]Mass Surveilance Cellebrite Report Reports in the U.K. have revealed that Cellebrite’s technology is also used by London’s Metropolitan Police (also known as Scotland Yard).[50]‘Stop Using Cellebrite’: Israeli, U.K. Police Urged to Stop Using Phone-hacking Tech In 2019 the Scottish Police Authority purchased Cellebrite’s technology.[51]OLD LAW, NEW TECH AND CONTINUED OPACITY: POLICE SCOTLAND’S USE OF MOBILE PHONE EXTRACTION [52]Scottish Police Deploy Tech That Extracts Data from Locked Smartphones
BriefCam and Corsight AI, Israeli companies specialising in surveillance, sold their products to the British police in 2024[53]BriefCam, Analytics in Action: Boosting Investigation Efficiency for Cumbria Police, 19.09.2024[54]Security Journal UK, Essex Police deploys facial recognition from Corsight AI, 03.09.2024.
Arms exhibitions
DSEI 2023 – Smartshooter[55]Israel Defense, SMARTSHOOTER to Present the SMASH Technology at DSEI, 04.09.2023, Rafael [56]Israel Defense, After Securing a £20 Million Contract with the UK, Rafael Showcases Its TROPHY APS a DSEI 2023, 06.09.2023
DSEI 2025 – The UK government banned the participation of Israeli government delegation in protest of Israel’s actions in Gaza.[57]BBC, UK blocks Israeli government delegation from arms trade fair, 29.08.2025 Despite this, dozens of Israeli arms companies did participate in the Exhibition: Aeronautics, AITECH, Airobotics, Bird, Bagira, Beth-El Industries, Blueburd, Caeli, Controp, CopterPIX, Creomagic, CTI, DSIT, Edgybees, Elbit, Epsilor, Gate Technologies, Gilat Satellite Systems, infiniDome, Israeli Aerospace Industries, Lingacom, Lowental Hybrid, Magam Safety, Manta Air, Maris Tech, Marom Dolphin, Nanomotion, Omnisys, Orbit, OSG, Ottopia Technologies, Paxis, Plasan, R2 wireless, Rafael, Redler Technologies, Regulus Cyber, Roboticon, RSL electronics, SCD, Smart Shooter, Source Tactical Gear, Spear UAV, Skana Robotics, Sol Security Labs, Solarpaint, Steadicopter, Thermal Beacon, Third Eye Systems, TriEYE, UVision, Visual Layer, XTend.[58]Caat, DSEI 2025- Exhibitors
Cyber Relations
Documents revealed by Edward Snowden in 2014 showed that the US National Security Agency with Britain’s spy Centre GCHQ as a key partner, was providing to its Israeli counterpart, the Israeli SIGINT National Unit (ISNU, also known as Unit 8200) data used to monitor and target Palestinians.[59]CASH, WEAPONS AND SURVEILLANCE: THE U.S. IS A KEY PARTY TO EVERY ISRAELI ATTACK/ Cybersecurity has become a key area of UK-Israeli cooperation. A recent report by the British Israeli lobby group, Bicom, notes that “government-to-government cooperation between the UK and Israel in cybersecurity is strong and has been described by a senior UK official as a ‘first-order partnership’”.[60]UK-Israel relations after Brexit: cyber security/ 337 Israeli high-tech companies operated in the UK in 2018, an increase of 60% from 2013.[61]Momentum for Strengthening UK-Israel Relationship?
In February 2020, The British government was widely criticized after espionage software provider NSO Group has been invited to a secretive security trade fair “Security and Policing” in Farnborough, UK. The Israeli company Pro4tech Ltd also participated in the fair. In 2019 the Israeli company Anyvision (Oosto) participated in the same fair. Anyvision develops face recognition and was criticized worldwide after its technology was reportedly used against Palestinians in the West-Bank.[62]Omega research foundation : Security and Policing Home Office Event
In January 2022 In an interview to AFP CEO of Israeli Facial Recognition Company Corsight AI, Rob Watts, said that British police were piloting its technology.[63]Israeli firm develops body cams with facial recognition In 2021 Corsight AI employed Tony Porter, who served for seven years as the UK’s surveillance camera commissioner (SCC), as their new chief privacy officer (CPO).[64]TONY PORTER JOINS CORSIGHT AI AS CHIEF PRIVACY OFFICER
The Israeli surveillance-technology company BriefCam was incorporated in the UK in 2019.[65]Company Information UK – BriefCam IndigoVision, Axis Communications and Reliance High Tech sell it products in the UK to police forces, local councils and educational establishments.[66]Mass Surveillance Project – companies UK
In 2021, it was revealed the Israeli spyware Candiru was used against British victims in including the UK news outlet Middle East Eye.[67]Recorded Future, Tracking Candiru’s DevilsTongue Spyware in Multiple Countries, 05.08.2025[68]The Citizen Lab, Hooking Candiru, 15.07.2021
In June 2026 France’s disinformation detection service, Viginum, announced it suspect the Israeli firm BlackCore interfered in elections in Scotland. Viginum found BlackCore-linked accounts targeting John Swinney, the first minister of Scotland.[69]Reuters, Israeli firm BlackCore suspected of meddling in New York and Scotland votes, France says, 12.06.2026
Usage of Israeli Arms
Hermes 450 – was used extensively by Britain in Afghanistan between 2007 and 2014. In 2013 British controlled Hermes 450s had completed 70,000 hours flight time in Afghanistan.[70]Hermes 450 reaches 70,000 hours in Afghanistan In September 2014 the British Army stopped using Hermes 450s and started using the Watchkeeper, based on the H-450 and co-produced by Thales and Elbit.
Thor and Magni-X Uncrewed Aerial Systems by Elbit were provided to the British Army.[71]Elbit Systems, Elbit Systems UK Showcases Innovation and Advanced Air Technologies at Farnborough 2026, 17.07.2026
Spike-NLOS (or ‘Exactor) – Spike missiles were used by the British army in Iraq before being transferred to Afghanistan.[72]Spike NLOS (EXACTOR)
Litening Pods by Rafael– are used by the British Royal Air Force on Typhoon fighter jets.[73]Defence-Network, Großbritannien: RAF setzt LITENING gegen Drohnen ein, 22.05.2026
UFED – In the UK Cellebrite has been contracted by several police forces: Police Scotland, Leicestershire Police, Sussex Police, Gloucestershire Constabulary, Cumbria Police and South Wales Police.[74]Mass Surveilance Cellebrite Report In 2018, the UK Home Office’s Immigration Enforcement authority made a payment of £45,000 to Cellebrite.[75]Surveillance Company Cellebrite Finds a New Exploit: Spying on Asylum Seekers Reports in the U.K. have revealed that Cellebrite’s technology is also used by London’s Metropolitan Police (also known as Scotland Yard).[76]‘Stop Using Cellebrite’: Israeli, U.K. Police Urged to Stop Using Phone-hacking Tech In 2019 the Scottish Police Authority purchased Cellebrite’s technology.[77]OLD LAW, NEW TECH AND CONTINUED OPACITY: POLICE SCOTLAND’S USE OF MOBILE PHONE EXTRACTION [78]Scottish Police Deploy Tech That Extracts Data from Locked Smartphones
BriefCam technologies – were sold to UK police forces, local councils, educational establishments and the National Health Service.[79]Mass Surveillance Project – companies UK
Nice Investigative Systems were used by UK authorities and businesses for surveillance.[80]NICE Investigate Helps UK Retail Businesses Reduce Crime through Rapid Information Sharing [81]NICE Investigate digital evidence management solution helps UK retail businesses, such as Boots UK, counter crime via rapid information sharing
Activism
Palestine Action is an activist network that targets UK-based arms dealers that provide weapons to Israel, with a focus on Elbit’s factories in the UK. The network uses direct action such as breaking into factories, occupying factories, blocking entry, dismantling machinery and more. There have been multiple arrests and trials of the network’s activists since its foundation in 2020.
Palestine Action’s activity has caused damage to factories, sometimes leading to their shutting down temporarily or even permanently. For example, according to the network’s report[82]Palestine Action permanently shut Elbit down in Tamworth, Elbit Systems was forced to sell the factory in Tamsworth in February 2024 due to falling profits and increased security costs brought on by Palestine Action’s operations.
On August 16th 2024, a group of activists tied themselves to the entrance of the British Consulate in Jerusalem[83]AP, Protesters tie themselves to the entrance of the British Consulate in Jerusalem, 21.8.24, demanding an end to British arms sales to Israel and an end to the genocide in Gaza.
In September 2025, Elbit closed its facility in Bristol. The site was repeatedly targeted by Palestine Action protests, including blockades, occupying the roof, smashing windows and dousing the site in red paint. According to the Guardian, civil protests were significant in curtailing Elbit’s activities in the UK.[84]The Guardian, Israeli arms manufacturer closes UK facility targeted by Palestine Action, 06.09.2025
Following a wave of direct action in 2024 targeting Barclays branches across the country, the British bank Barclays pulled its share investments from Elbit Systems.[85]Campaign Against Arms Trade, Solidarity with the Barclays 5! Direct Action is not Terrorism, 06.08.2026
Offices of the Logistics firm DB Schenker in Scotland, part of DSV, were vandalized because of logistics transport services it allegedly provides to Elbit Systems.[86]Belfast Telegraph, Logistics firm’s premises vandalised over ‘Israel links’, 06.08.2026