EDO civilian technology company disolved
mr fye | 25.05.2009 12:24 | Smash EDO | Analysis | South Coast
EDO Aerotech Ltd, the civilian aviation technology subsidiary of EDO (UK) Ltd, and sister company to arms maker EDO MBM was finally disolved this month.
According to Companies House EDO Aerotech was struck off by application of the company itself on 12 May 2009.
This leaves EDO MBM as the sole remaining company in the EDO (UK) group which is now officially a 100% a military technology producer.
In court this year Paul Hills has claimed that 20% of the work done by EDO in Brighton was for civilian purposes, however the closure of the Aerotech, which used to make
in- flight entertainment (IFE) systems for Air France, suggests his testimony was far from accurate.
EDO MBM now has just two directors running the business, Paul Hills and John Eaton (inventor of electical connectors used on F16 and other military aircraft bomb racks), while 100% shareholder EDO(UK) Ltd has Paul Hills as its sole director, the miminum required under the Companies Act. EDO (UK) Ltd is in turn owned by ITT Corporation.
The number of employees of EDO MBM has dropped from 200 in 2004 to around 100 today. 2008 accounts due in October are expected to confirm this.
EDO MBM is known to be in current production of components for the Raytheon Paveway IV guided bomb, smart bomb racks, electrical connector systems, rugged military computers and arming units.
The UK Government refuses to confirm or deny whether or not the company supply Israel with military components on grounds of confidentiality (the company itself have blocked disclosure under FOIA). More recently the Goverment have raised further grounds for refusal including the commercial interest of the company and the protection of international relations.
Evidence suggests the company produced components used in war crimes in Gaza by Israeli war planes. Foreign Secretary David Milliband Milliband confirmed in April that British components exported via the US since 2002 were used in the Gaza conflict, including components for military aircraft.
On October 23rd 2009 six activists who 'decommissioned' the EDO MBM factory in January in protest at Israeli war crimes in Gaza, causing £300,000 of damage, and three other bystanders, face a Crown Court trial on charges of conspiracy to commit criminal damage. They have all pleaded not guilty to any criminal behavior.
This leaves EDO MBM as the sole remaining company in the EDO (UK) group which is now officially a 100% a military technology producer.
In court this year Paul Hills has claimed that 20% of the work done by EDO in Brighton was for civilian purposes, however the closure of the Aerotech, which used to make
in- flight entertainment (IFE) systems for Air France, suggests his testimony was far from accurate.
EDO MBM now has just two directors running the business, Paul Hills and John Eaton (inventor of electical connectors used on F16 and other military aircraft bomb racks), while 100% shareholder EDO(UK) Ltd has Paul Hills as its sole director, the miminum required under the Companies Act. EDO (UK) Ltd is in turn owned by ITT Corporation.
The number of employees of EDO MBM has dropped from 200 in 2004 to around 100 today. 2008 accounts due in October are expected to confirm this.
EDO MBM is known to be in current production of components for the Raytheon Paveway IV guided bomb, smart bomb racks, electrical connector systems, rugged military computers and arming units.
The UK Government refuses to confirm or deny whether or not the company supply Israel with military components on grounds of confidentiality (the company itself have blocked disclosure under FOIA). More recently the Goverment have raised further grounds for refusal including the commercial interest of the company and the protection of international relations.
Evidence suggests the company produced components used in war crimes in Gaza by Israeli war planes. Foreign Secretary David Milliband Milliband confirmed in April that British components exported via the US since 2002 were used in the Gaza conflict, including components for military aircraft.
On October 23rd 2009 six activists who 'decommissioned' the EDO MBM factory in January in protest at Israeli war crimes in Gaza, causing £300,000 of damage, and three other bystanders, face a Crown Court trial on charges of conspiracy to commit criminal damage. They have all pleaded not guilty to any criminal behavior.
mr fye
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