smashEDO

HOW EDO MBM SUPPLIES THE ISRAELI MILITARY

INTRODUCTION

The sources below detail information specifically regarding the supply of components to the Israeli Military made by EDO MBM Technology in Brighton. EDO MBM have taken the line both in the media (when they dare speak) and under oath in several court cases, (before Magistrate, Crown, and High Court judges) that they do not supply any equipment to
the Israeli military whatsoever. On the other hand EDO Corp. in the US openly admits it supplies many components to Israel.

By cross referencing of documents in the public domain, with witness statements of former employees of EDO MBM in court, the truth is
evident that EDO MBM in Brighton do make parts used by the Israeli military and continue to try and hide this fact.

In a letter 24th May 2004, David Jones, then Managing Director of EDO MBM Technology Ltd wrote to the then chair of Brighton and Hove Palestine Solidarity Campaign:

'I can confirm that to the best of our knowledge and belief, none of our components, particularly weapons release systems, are incorporated into systems which are exported by any third country into Israel. Additionally, I can confirm that this company has not supplied any defence products directly to Israel during the ten years in which I
have been involved.'

however he did say that no manufacturer can ever know the end user of his equipment.

SECTION ONE. EDO MBM AND THE ISRAELI F16

1. Zero Retention Force Arming Unit (or Retention Arming Unit - Zero retention)

An EDO Corp promotional document describes the component as the 'EDO MBM Zero Retention Force Arming Unit' and says it is supplied to 'IAF' see.

EDO MBM appear to be the sole supplier for this armament component.

Under cross-examination at Hove Crown Court in December 2005, David Jones, the then managing director of EDO MBM , admitted that 'IAF' in
the above document refers to the Israeli Air Force. Faced with the document Jones claimed that a sister company in the US, EDO Artisan make the component, and that even though he is a director of that
company too, this is only 'for tax reasons', and he has no control over it. However EDO MBM say on their own website that they 'actively manufacture' the equipment themselves see.

2.VER-2 ('Vertical Ejection Release' Bomb Rack)

The Israel Defence Sales Directory states 'The VER-2 has been in Israeli Air Force operational use for 10 years as main F16 bomb rack'. There is no evidence to be found that the VER-2 is used by any other Air Force other than the IAF. It utilizes the EDO MBM Zero Retention Force Arming Unit as an essential part see.

In Hove Crown Court David Jones admitted under cross-examination that he had removed references to the 'VER-2' from the EDO MBM website, after protests began in Brighton in 2004, but denied the company had ever made the VER-2. Despite this reference can still be found on the sitemap page of the website see.

We have the hidden page

Jones claimed in court that EDO MBM had simply 'licenced' the design from it from Israeli Military Industries, and were only 'advertising the capability to make it.'

Considering that Jones admitted trying to hide the VER-2 reference from the website and only admitted this fact once faced with the hidden webpage (found in the cache of a search engine) it is entirely possible that this witness evidence is unreliable.

SECTION TWO: EDO MBM AND THE HELFIRE MISSILE.

EDO MBM are developing bomb release units that can be used with unmanned arial combat vehicles (UCAV) or armed drones. These drones have been used by the Israeli military as extrajudicial assassination
weapons in Lebanon and the occupied territories.

EDO MBM sponsored a conference on UCAVS in 2004 attended by 'Raytheon', the Israeli and US army and 'Raphaels', an Israeli arms manufacturer.

EDO MBM provide equipment that launches Hellfire missiles that could be used by Israeli military helicopters.

In 2005 two peace activists in Brighton met with a former employee of EDO MBM who had worked at its flexible circuits factory in Portslade.
The ex-employee who wished to remain anonymous toldthem that he had been informed by his manager, that the circuits he was working on were parts for the Hellfire missile. He had begun working for EDO MBM through an employment agency who had not told him he would be working on military equipment. He left the job-despite being offered a full-time position with twice the rate of pay-because he did not wish to work for an arms company.