Wednesday, June 10, 2009

Made In Woodstock?

Ametek Rotron Military and Aerospace Products, on Hasbrouck Lane in Woodstock, NY, is a division of Ametek Inc, and apparently makes both civilian and military products. Our concern is, of course, not with the facility's non-military production. But we believe that Woodstock, the world, Rotron and its employees will all benefit when we make useful, sustainable products rather than weapons.

Among the many weapons systems that - according to the company's promotional materials - include Rotron components are:
AH-64 Apache Longbow attack helicopter, widely used in the occupation of Iraq.
F-15, F-16, and F/A-18F aircraft, used in the illegal invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as Operation Desert Storm; also used by governments with long records of human rights violations such as Pakistan and Indonesia.
Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS), used to fire cluster bombs: by the US in Iraq and by Israel in Lebanon in 2006.
M2 Bradley tank, used in Operation Iraqi Freedom.
M113 Armored Personnel Carrier. 5500 of these are used by Israel to enforce its illegal occupation of the West Bank.
Challenger tank (UK), used in the invasion of Iraq.
In most cases it is not within our knowledge which of these products are made in Woodstock as opposed to the company's other facility in El Cajon, California. But the company's headquarters are in Woodstock. Further examples of weapons systems for which Ametek Rotron Military and Aerospace Products claims to make components are:
Military Transport: Lockheed C-130, C-130J, C-5; Alenia G-222
Military Attack/Fighter: Boeing AV-8B, F-18; Eurofighter EF2000; Lockheed F-22, F-117; Mitsubishi/Lockheed F-2; Northrop B-2; IAI Rafael [Israel Aircraft Industries]; Alenia/Aermacchi/Embraer AMX; Dassault Rafale
Military helicopters include: RAH-66 Comanche, AH-64 Apache, Eurocopter Tiger
Merkava: the main battle tank of the Israel Defense Forces
TARES Unmanned Combat Air Vehicle (Germany)
VBL (French light armored vehicle)
Crusader self-propelled howitzer
LAV (Light Armored Vehicle): a mainstay of US Marine forces in Iraq
MESAR2 , a now-obsolete component of Ballistic Missile Defense

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