New task for Watchkeeper
August 16, 2024
The Estonian Defence Forces have announced that the British Army is conducting training flights with its Thales Watchkeeper WK450 tactical unmanned aerial vehicle (TUAV) system over Pärnu and Western Estonia from 15-31 August.
The Watchkeeper is used for intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition, and reconnaissance (ISTAR) missions. It is operated by 47 Regiment Royal Artillery and is normally based at Larkhill on Salisbury Plain. The aircraft is provided under an £800 million contract with UAV Tactical Systems (U-TacS), a joint venture between Elbit and Thales UK.
Based on the Israeli Elbit Hermes 450, Watchkeeper has a dual-mode synthetic aperture radar and ground moving target indication system in addition to the Hermes’ electro-optical/infrared sensor, giving it enhanced all weather capabilities.
The Watchkeeper was previously used in Afghanistan, and for operations against Daesh in the Middle East, operating from RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus. During August 2020, a Watchkeeper was used over the English Channel to monitor migrant boats. The aircraft operated from Lydd Airport to assist the Border Force.
The British Army’s Watchkeeper mid-life extension (MLE) will introduce some enhancements to the aircraft with the aim of achieving an initial operating capability for the upgraded system by 2026, with full operating capability scheduled for 2027.
