FANUC Corporation

Additional Details

FANUC is a Japanese group of companies that provides automation products and services, such as robotics and computer numerical control (CNC) systems. As the world's largest manufacturer of industrial robots, its technology is widely utilized across various manufacturing sectors, including the defense industry. FANUC’s robots are integrated into the assembly lines of several major global aerospace and defense contractors, including BAE Systems, GE Aerospace, General Dynamics, Lockheed Martin, and RTX. During the conflict in Gaza, visual evidence surfaced indicating the use of a FANUC robot on a defense production line. A video published by the Israeli Ministry of Defense on January 29, 2024, depicted a FANUC robot manufacturing 155mm artillery shells. The video's caption stated: “Elbit Systems’ assembly line for tank and artillery shells has been working nonstop since October 7 and has already supplied large amounts of munitions to the deployed forces.” Furthermore, records indicate that the Israeli military utilizes machinery operating on FANUC systems. The Israeli Ministry of Defense, which manages procurement for the armed forces, awarded two contracts in December 2023 and May 2024—together valued at approximately $307,000—for the maintenance of "machining machines with FANUC controls." This likely refers to FANUC's line of CNC machines, which are used in various precision manufacturing applications. These contracts were documented in a database that tracks unclassified agreements awarded without a public tender process. Because the database lacks extensive administrative details, it remains unspecified whether these contracts were awarded directly to FANUC, through an Israeli subsidiary, or to a third-party maintenance provider. The specific applications of these machines within the military's in-house manufacturing facilities are also not publicly detailed. In addition, other domestic defense contractors utilize FANUC systems. This includes the state-owned Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) at its MALAM factory, which produces missiles and rockets, as well as Bet Shemesh Engines, a major contractor for the Israeli Air Force. -- Listed on TYO (6954), FANUC Corporation is backed by leading sovereign wealth funds, most notably NBIM and GPIF.