How is a company in Wolverhampton linked to destruction in Gaza, a musical cousin in the US, and a seizure of shipments in Belgium? Find out more about Moog, and how you can take action.
A tale of two cousins
You might associate the name Moog with synthesisers – in the 1950s Robert Moog decided to put his engineering skills towards creativity and joy, founding Moog Music. (Photo: Moog Music / Norlin, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons)
In the same decade, his cousin Bill Moog was also using engineering skills to found a company using the family name, but sadly going down a very different route. Bill’s Moog Inc. (a completely separate company to Robert’s Moog Music) is now a $10 billion US arms company, headquartered in Elma / East Aurora in upstate New York.
Military aircraft and defence account for 50% of Moog Inc’s global revenues – aircraft, helicopters, drones, missiles, avionics, and the US Department of Defense is their single biggest client. Moog has four factories in the UK: Tewkesbury, Reading, Luton, and Wolverhampton right here in the West Midlands, which is their military aircraft factory.
Deadly planes and training pilots
Moog Wolverhampton makes key components for F-35 Fighter jets, which have been used to cause death and destruction around the world. Campaign Against Arms Trade states:
Israel uses F-35s to drop 2000lb bombs on Gaza. The F-35 has also been used by Israel in airstrikes against Iran, Lebanon and Yemen. The F-35 was also used by the US in its attacks on Venezuela, and F-35s are playing a critical role in the US-Israeli war on Iran.
The Wolverhampton factory also produces components for M-346 Fighter Trainer squadrons, used to train pilots to fly F-35s (and the similarly destructive F15s and F16s). An investigation by Declassified found that Israeli fighter pilots were still be trained with this equipment, even after the UK had suspended fighter jet exports to Israel. Over 150 Israeli pilots have graduated from M-346 to fly fighter jets since October 2023 and Moog’s shipments to Israel have more than trebled since the conflict began.
Moog in trouble
And yet it’s not all been plain sailing for the company, as they’ve faced scrutiny in other parts of the world. In 2024, Moog was fined nearly $2 million by the US government for bribery and corruption – overseen by the same person that oversees Moog Wolverhampton’s compliance. Despite this, the company has continued to be awarded contracts and export licenses in the UK.
Recently, two shipments of military components bound for Israel from the UK, one of which was from Moog Wolverhampton, were seized in Belgium. Belgium has strict laws on the transhipment of military items to Israel through its ports and airports, including a ban on overflights carrying weaponry through its airspace. With a criminal investigation reportedly underway, now is an opportunity to call for more transparency and better control of war-machines made here in the West Midlands.
Get Involved
Use Campaign Against Arms Trade’s online template to write to your MP about Moog. You can ask them to raise questions in the House of Commons about whether the Government intends to conduct a formal UK compliance investigation into the companies whose shipments were seized in Belgium.
The template includes all of the technical details, it’s great if you can add a personal note about why this issue is important to you. If you prefer to contact your MP dircetly (perhaps you already have correspondence with them on related issues) or by post, you can download a template below.
If you don’t know who your MP is, find their details via Write to Them. Whether you post or email your message, make sure you include your full address, as MPs will only respond to people living in their constituency.
Peaceful Protestors
Four peace protesters – Bea (Frank) Sherman, Hana Yun-Stevens, Iain Evans, Hisham Alkhameesi, staged a peaceful rooftop protest at Moog Wolverhampton’s factory on 26 August 2025. their aim was to stop Moog exporting military aircraft parts to Israel. They were arrested and charged with Criminal Damage, with an alleged “Terrorism Connection”, and remanded in custody. They are currently standing trial at Birmingham Crown Court.
These protestors will appreciate public support during their trial between 8 and 29 June – if you are interested in coming along, please get in touch.
Peace Hub also has flyers, stickers, posters highlighting the Moog campaign (plus copies of the Declassified articles) if you’d like to help spread the word.