Northrop Grumman is studying options for a UK-based system integration centre and is examining lessons from the British Army's deployment of BAE Systems Phoenix tactical unmanned air vehicles during the Iraq war as it finalises its Watchkeeper bid.
The US company is also assessing growth options for its RQ-8 Fire Scout and Ruag Ranger solution, including arming the platforms. Watchkeeper has no requirement for weapons, but the Ministry of Defence has indicated this as a potential future need. Arming Fire Scout is being studied within the US Army's Future Combat System (FCS).
Other Watchkeeper growth options include use in maritime and littoral surveillance missions, urban missions, communications relay and carriage of the Soothsayer electronic warfare payload.
Northrop Grumman says its objective for Watchkeeper and FCS is to allow payload integration in minutes to be responsive to battlefield requirements.
The company says Phoenix operations in Iraq have shown how the UK expects to transition and operate its next UAVs. This includes supportability during operations and ensuring sortie rates remain high.
Meanwhile, Watchkeeper competitor, Thales UK, has added Cubic, Logica CMG, Marshall Special Vehicles and Vega to its team.
Source: Flight International
