Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Israeli media outlet: Security incident reported in the Gaza Strip
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson: No new date or venue has been set for the meeting between Araghchi and Witkoff, and no negotiations will take place until the outcome is guaranteed
Palestinian platforms: Settlers storm Al-Aqsa Mosque complex under the protection of the occupation police
Palestinian platforms: The IOF detonated a booby-trapped robot east of the al-Zaytoun neighborhood, south of Gaza City
Syrian Defense: We call on all parties in Sweida to cooperate with security forces and exercise restraint
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: The Lebanese Army is continuing its investigations and will later announce any information that does not affect the confidentiality of the investigation
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: It has not yet been determined whether the detainees belong to ISIS or another organization
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Around 10 people of different nationalities, including Lebanese nationals, were detained
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: The Lebanese army arrested a number of people in the Matn area of Mount Lebanon with possession it has not disclosed
Gaza Civil Defense spokesman: We have strong indications that there are martyrs, injuries, and trapped people in the Salah al-Din area

New investigation reveals UK firm supplying engines for Israeli drones

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Declassified UK
  • 28 Apr 2025 17:59
  • 3 Shares
4 Min Read

Despite arms export suspensions, UK-based RCV Engines supplies critical components for "Israel's" attack drones, Declassified UK finds, reigniting debate over Britain's role in Gaza.

Listen
  • x
  • RCV Engines, a British engineering firm based in Dorset, supplies the propulsion system for the APUS 25 drone developed by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI). (Israeli Occupation Force)
    RCV Engines, a British engineering firm based in Dorset, supplies the propulsion system for the APUS 25 drone developed by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) (Israeli military)

A report published by Declassified UK on Monday revealed that a British company is supplying engines for "Israel's" newest line of military drones, raising fresh concerns about UK complicity in the Gaza genocide.

RCV Engines, a Dorset-based engineering firm specializing in multi-fuel internal combustion engines, has been identified as the manufacturer of the propulsion system for the APUS 25 drone, developed by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), an Israeli government-owned weapons manufacturer. The APUS 25 is marketed as a "revolutionary long-endurance TactiQuad" and designed to "redefine tactical drone operations for ground and maritime forces worldwide," according to IAI.

The drone's advanced design enables it to perform "offensive operations," including deploying weapons systems, thereby offering "a new dimension to tactical air support in combat scenarios," the company notes. IAI promotional materials reveal the drone's engine bearing the RCV Engines logo, confirming the British firm's involvement. Until now, RCV's ties to the Israeli defense sector had not been made public.

Drone complicity

The revelation that UK-made components are being integrated into weaponized drones comes amid heightened scrutiny over British arms sales to "Israel." Footage emerging from Gaza in recent months shows Israeli quadcopters dropping bombs and firing on civilians. Retired surgeon Nizam Mamode recounted before British MPs in November; "The drones would come down and pick off civilians – children." He added, "We [were] operating on children who would say: 'I was lying on the ground after a bomb had dropped and this quadcopter came down and hovered over me and shot me.'"

Related News

Iran defends regional policies, warns of escalating aggression in Gaza

Gaza flattened for pay, not need: IOF reward operators for each ruin

Moreover, Israeli drones have reportedly been used to broadcast the sound of crying babies to lure Palestinians into open spaces, where they were then targeted.

Read more: Britain helping 'Israel’s' nuclear force: Declassified UK

Despite recent announcements by UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy suspending around 30 arms export licences to "Israel," it appears that engines produced by RCV Engines may have evaded these restrictions. In 2022, RCV stated that it had been granted an export licence exemption for global shipments, meaning its drone engines were "removed from the export control list" in Britain. On its LinkedIn page, the company credited this exemption with enabling faster shipping, fewer bureaucratic hurdles, and increased global sales.

The political support RCV received was also acknowledged publicly. The company thanked local Conservative MP Sir Christopher Chope for his role in lobbying for the licence exemption. RCV said, "The success that we have seen since 2022, which is directly linked to the export control status, has meant RCV has been steadily growing."

Export loophole

Emily Apple from the Campaign Against Arms Trade (CAAT) criticized the situation, saying, "Labour urgently needs to reverse this decision and close this loophole. It's beyond time it ended its complicity in genocide and prioritised Palestinian lives over the profits of the arms industry." She added, "Removing RCV Engines from export licence controls is utterly outrageous. This makes a mockery of Labour's already flimsy decision to suspend just 30 export licences to Israel and appears to create a massive loophole in the export licensing regulations."

When contacted, the Department for Business and Trade declined to comment on individual companies, and RCV Engines also did not respond.

Meanwhile, IAI continues to develop more advanced models, such as the APUS 60, aiming for greater endurance and payload capacity, although it remains unclear if RCV will continue supplying engines for future versions.

Read more: 100+ Britons in Israeli forces, illegal settlements: Declassified UK

  • war on Gaza
  • Israel
  • Gaza genocide
  • Declassified UK
  • United Kingdom

Most Read

Hezbollah SG reveals war details on Al Mayadeen for the first time

Hezbollah SG reveals war details on Al Mayadeen for the first time

  • Politics
  • 8 Jul 2025
Major ambush in Gaza kills 6 Israeli troops, injures dozens

Major ambush in Gaza kills 5 Israeli troops, injures 14

  • Politics
  • 8 Jul 2025
Israeli soldiers are seen in Beit Hanoun ahead of an operation by the al-Qassam Brigades, undated (Al-Qassam Brigades Military Media)

'Israel' on blast as media exposes report discrepancies in Gaza ambush

  • Palestine
  • 8 Jul 2025
Yemen Navy sinks ETERNITY C ship, shares footage of operation

Yemen Navy sinks ETERNITY C ship, shares footage of operation

  • Politics
  • 9 Jul 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
The Freedom Flotilla ship Handala as it departs for Gaza, where it aims to break the maritime blockade at a port in Syracuse, Sicily in southern Italy on July 13, 2025. (AFP)
Palestine

Freedom Flotilla's Handala departs Sicily in bid to break Gaza siege

The container ship CMA CGM Laperouse, left, docks at the Georgia Ports Authority's Port of Savannah, Sept. 29, 2021, in Savannah, Ga (AP)
Politics

US shipbuilding woes deepen as tariffs, outdated policies backfire

Gaza war raises ethical questions for ex-Obama, Biden officials
Politics

Mercenary firm tied to Gaza war crimes hires Obama-Biden PR operatives

'Israel' targets children in Gaza collecting water
Palestine

'Israel' strikes Gaza kids fetching water, blames it on 'malfunction'

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS