Established in Cork in 2010, Collins Aerospace is a subsidiary of RTX Corporation, formerly Raytheon Technologies. The multinational rebranded in June 2023 and is the world’s largest defence and aerospace conglomerate.

The group received more than €7.5m from its parent company in 2022, with its remaining turnover derived from various grant programmes. According to research done by the American Friends Service Committee, Raytheon provides the Israeli government with a wide variety of weapons including various missiles and bombs. Raytheon equipment is also integrated into Raytheon’s main weapons systems such as the engines, missiles, sensor and navigation systems for Israel’s F-35 fighter jets as well as engines, radars and maintenance services for Israel’s F-16 fighter bombers.

The company serves several industries including commercial aviation, helicopters, space, and weapons manufacturing. Its Cork branch acts as a research and development hub and according to Collins, it is a “key contributor” to its applied research and technology capability.

While the Cork branch has been in operation for almost 15 years, in recent months, it has become a target among members of the Cork Palestine Solidarity Campaign (CPSC), who have raised concerns about the activities and parent firm of Collins Aerospace.

The group has claimed that Collins Aerospace and its parent company, RTX, have developed weapons used to harm civilians in Gaza.

The concerns have led to repeated protests outside the Cork branch's office, with members adamant that demonstrations will continue after six months of repeated pickets.

Speaking outside Penrose Wharf last week, President of the Worker’s Party, Cllr Ted Tynan raised several concerns regarding the branch and called on the Government to investigate the firm, adding that they should “make public the precise nature of the products, systems and components designed and manufactured by Collins Aerospace in Cork.”

“While some of the company’s overall operations may involve purely civilian design and manufacture, the presence of a company which is part of an international operation involved in the arms industry demands that questions should be answered," said Mr Tynan.

Speaking to reporters in an on-site media briefing last week, a spokesperson for Collins Aerospace declined to comment on the connection between RTX and its subsidiary Raytheon and the war in Gaza.

Full story in Irish Examiner

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