( CNN ) -- Some of Britain 's most influential former military figures are under investigation after allegedly boasting about their ability to secure arms contracts for private firms in violation of British law . The `` generals for hire '' scandal broke late Saturday following the publication of a Sunday Times investigation that used hidden cameras to capture the alleged claims by the men , all recently retired military officers . The Ministry of Defence moved quickly Sunday to distance itself from the alleged actions of the retired generals , saying an investigation was under way . `` Equipment is procured in the interests of our Armed Forces and not in the interests of retired personnel . Former military officers have no influence over what ( ministry ) contracts are awarded , '' said Philip Hammond , the defense secretary . In Britain , military personnel are required to wait two years after leaving the service before taking a job where their former position may give their employer or clients an advantage . The Sunday Times says its three-month investigation focused on `` the revolving door between the Ministry of Defence and private arms companies . '' Among those named in the newspaper 's investigation was recently retired Lt. Gen. Sir John Kiszely , a Falklands war hero and former head of the Defence Academy . Kiszely allegedly confided to a reporter posing as a representative of an arms firm that he could use his role as president of the Royal British Legion to push his clients ' agenda with the prime minister and other senior officials . Another retired military official , Lt. Gen. Richard Applegate -- a former ministry procurement chief -- was captured on video allegedly describing a secret lobbying campaign in parliament on behalf of an Israeli arms company . Kiszely , Applegate and two other high-ranking former officers denied the claims , saying they did nothing wrong and always had the best interests of the services at heart , the newspaper reported . In a statement released following the publication of The Sunday Times investigation , the Ministry of Defence said it was `` looking to see if any of these individuals have broken any rules . '' `` Former chiefs acting in a commercial capacity should not have any privileged access to the ( ministry ) and we will put in place measure to ensure this , '' it said . Journalist Nicky Robertson contributed to this report .
An undercover Sunday Times investigation secretly filmed retired military officials . The officials allegedly claimed they could influence arms sales for private firms . The officials , all retired generals , denied the allegations by the Sunday Times . The Ministry of Defence has launched an investigation into the allegations .