Protest/Vigil – Farnborough Arms Fair: Say No Horror Show!

 

Find out more about which arms companies will be attending the Farnborough Arms Fair via the CAAT Data Page, summary information in the flyer above, more info below.

 

Here is what we hear is happening:

1. Schedule for the Day

0900 Meet at Meet Point Farnborough Road / Junction of Netley Rd (Map)

0915 Walk to Day Peace Camp; Know Your Rights Briefing

0930 (approx) Protest at Protest Point One (will be announced on the day and confirmed here)

12-2pm  Day Peace Camp: Bring and Share Lunch; Choir; Talks

2-4pm (approx) Protest at Protest Point Two (will be announced on the day and confirmed here)

4pm Close and departure

 

2. Getting there and away

The map to the meeting point shows the area. (Map)

If you are coming into the area or making plans, Farnborough has three main gates:

“Farnborough International Gate F” (Aerospace Boulevard) | what3words: remind.clap.decreased

“Farnborough International Gate A” (Transport Road) | what3words: back.enable.double

“Farnborough International Gate B” (Trenchard Way) – Pedestrian access on foot only | what3words: safety.homes.taxi

Farnborough Station can be reached from Waterloo (50 minutes station to station). The number 1 bus runs south towards the exhibition centre (noting might be busy due to the arms fair).

Alternatively trains from Reading station run to North Camp, about 20 minutes walk from the area. Reading is reached via Paddington.

We expect all locations to be wheelchair accessible, noting that Police fencing  can block access: we will be checking for any access issues

 

3. Meet us there!

As per previous fairs, please bring food, water, a sunhat and suncream! CAAT will be there providing support too, especially given the likely hot weather.

CAAT will be onsite, outside the fair on Monday 20th July, we expect from 9AM-4pm.

Please familiarise yourself with the CAAT Action Guidelines, and the information provided by our friends Green and Black Cross. We would recommend avoiding all interactions with the Police, where possible.

 

4. More about this years arms fair:

Farnborough International Airshow, FIA 2026, is a gigantic arms fair.

The event’s principal “strategic” sponsor, Barclays, has been a regular investor in Elbit Systems, Israel’s largest arms company in the past. Barclays remains a primary dealer of Israeli government bonds; and continues to invest/lend over £8 billion to companies involved in supplying weapons to Israel including e.g. BAE Systems. They are hosting a financial summit, we understand, with hundreds of bank bosses expected to attend to find ways to fund arms dealers!

There will be over 1000 arms company exhibitors at Farnbough Arms Fair this year

Many of them have been complicit with the genocide in Gaza; their products have been used in attacks in Yemen, Syria and Lebanon; and they continue to profit from conflicts around the world. They will be in Farnborough to show off their wares and make new deadly arms deals!

These companies will include

Lockheed Martin: manufacturer of the F-35. The Israeli F-35I Adir has been used extensively in the genocide in Gaza. The F-35 has also been used in multiple attacks on Yemen, Syria, and Iran. It also manufactures the F-16, widely used including by Israel in Gaza, Saudi Arabia in Yemen, and by the US everywhere.

BAE Systems: Manufactures 15% of every F-35, integrating components from other suppliers. Its Typhoon aircraft was used throughout the war in Yemen, which saw over 377,000 people killed due to the bombing and deliberate destruction of infrastructure, including healthcare, water and food supplies.

Leonardo: makes the laser targeting system for the F-35 in Edinburgh. 8 UK operational sites with the largest in Yeovil, Edinburgh and Luton. With BAE Systems, manufactures the Typhoon used by the Saudis in the bombing of Yemen.

Elbit Systems: Elbit is Israel’s largest arms company. Its Hermes drones have surveilled and attacked Palestinians over 15 years. It describes its drones as the “backbone” of the Israeli drone fleet.

Boeing: manufactures the F-15, Chinook and Apache helicopters.  Boeing was the leading arms manufacturer of missiles and munitions delivered to Israel from 2021- 2023. Israel has also used a version of the F-15, the F-15 Eagle to bomb Gaza.

Rafael: Israel’s largest missile maker. The Israeli military has used Rafael’s Spike guided missiles to target individuals inside buildings in Gaza. Spike missiles have been linked to an April 2024 attack against humanitarian workers in Gaza.

IAI Israeli Aerospace Industries. Products include the Heron, Heron TP,  and Heron MK II medium altitude long endurance drones, primarily used for surveillance and reconnaissance. Its strike drones include the Tactical Heron, BirdEye650D, WanderB-VTOL, APUS 25 and ThunderB-VTOL. All have been used in Israel’s genocidal occupation of the Palestinian territories. 

RTX Raytheon Raytheon is a significant supplier of missiles and other goods and services to the Israeli military. The GBU–28, Sidewinder, and Paveway (the US-produced Paveway II version) weapons supplied by the company have been reported by Israeli and international media to have been used in Gaza. Raytheon also provides weapon systems, components, and maintenance services to F-15, F-16, and F-35 fighter jets; these likely include those belonging to the Israeli Air Force. 

L3 Harris: makes the bomb release mechanism for the F-35I Adir, used in the Gaza genocide, as well as other componentry for the F-35. Extensive involvement in global conflict, including making Intelligence Surveillance Reconnaissance aircraft and the Ground Panoramic “Pano” Night Vision Goggles, used by the US and its allies in night raids in Afghanistan and Iraq. Extensive war crimes including the killing of unarmed civilians have been reported associated with these operations.