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The Watchkeeper UAV will provide the UK Armed Forces with an essential Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance (ISTAR) capability based on the Elbit Systems’ Hermes 450 UAV, and will be a key component of the UK’s Network Enabled Capability. This Program will deliver equipment, training and facilities, and is intended to enter service starting in 2010.
Details have now emerged regarding the sharing arrangements between Thales UK and the rest of the Watchkeeper consortium, and Elbit Systems who designed the base UAVs.
The joint Thales-Elbit venture, Tactical Systems Limited (U-TacS) has now received a GBP 317 million (over $500 million) order from project lead Thales UK, to be performed over an eight-year period. Elbit notes that the majority of U-TacS’ activity will be executed in the UK, with a significant amount of its work sub-contracted to small and medium sized enterprises across the UK per DID’s last report. Elbit Systems is U-TacS’ largest subcontractor, with approximately one third this contract’s value or about $167 million.
Watchkeeper can provide continuous 24/7 surveillance when needed, using unmanned air vehicles able to stay airborne for more than 16 hours each through night and poor weather. The complete Watchkeeper system consists of the WK450 unmanned air vehicle carrying day/night sensors and laser target designator connected by a data link to a network of containerised Ground Control Stations where operators will control the entire mission and interface within a network enabled environment. The system is capable of rapid deployment and operations anywhere in the world.
In addition to executing the Watchkeeper Program, Elbit Systems and Thales have agreed to jointly market tactical UAV projects in other countries worldwide. See corporate release [pdf].
More on the UK’s Watchkeeper UAV program
The UK’s Watchkeeper ISTAR UAV
