Schleifring manufactures slip rings, a component for transmitting power and electrical signals, used in many military systems.
The company says its products are used in armoured vehicles, drones, electrical-optical systems, weapons stations, howitzers/missile launchers and naval equipment.
Arming Israel
In 2013, the company website listed (document no longer available) the following systems in which its slip rings are used:
- the Hermes drone, used in Israel’s attacks on Gaza.
- Merkava IV, Israel’s main battle tank.
- Puma. Israel operates a ‘Puma’ armoured personnel carrier, modified from UK- exported Centurion tanks. These were used in the Occupied territories in 2001-2, despite Israeli assurances that UK supplied equipment and components would not be so deployed. South Africa, Germany and Italy also have armoured vehicles with this name.
- The Green Pine radar system.
Schleifring applied for UK military export licences to Israel in every years for which CAAT has data (2008-15).
During this period, it applied for 231 export licences, of which a majority, 135, were for export to Israel. Thirteen of these were for equipment rated ML10c (Unmanned aircraft and related equipment and specially designed components); 92 were for equipment rated ML5b (Target acquisition, designation, range-finding, surveillance or tracking systems; detection, data fusion, recognition or identification equipment; and sensor integration equipment.)
