Thales is exhibiting a full-scale, final configuration model of the British Army’s future Watchkeeper tactical unmanned air vehicle (UAV) at the show, having completed a critical design review of the airframe late last month.
The newly-revealed design incorporates a dual mission payload comprising the Thales I-Master synthetic-aperture radar/ground moving target indication sensor and Compass IV electro-optical/infrared system from Elbit Systems subsidiary Elop.
A growth version of Elbit’s Hermes 450 UAV and now ready to enter production, the Watchkeeper UAV is being developed as part a £700 million ($1.4 billion) contract from the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) signed in August 2005.
Battlefield
The system is on track to deliver battlefield intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance services to the UK armed forces from 2010, with Thales also looking to attract its first export buyer. “The finalisation of the UAV design represents another step towards the successful delivery of the system at the end of the decade,” the company says.
Compared with the baseline Hermes 450, Watchkeeper has a retractable and strengthened nose wheel and improved fixed main undercarriage. Its wing has been blended with the aircraft’s upper fuselage and will now carry de-icing equipment for all-weather operations.
The enhanced design also has an increased fuel capacity.
Source: Flight Daily News
