Thales UK has released images from the first flight of its Watchkeeper unmanned air vehicle, almost three weeks after the milestone was achieved in northern Israel.
Permission to publish the pictures had been blocked by the UK Defence Equipment & Support organisation since the 16 April event, due to sensitivities linked to local elections held across the UK on 1 May.
“Thales UK’s Watchkeeper programme is on track, and all the customer-agreed milestones have so far been met on or ahead of schedule,” says Richard Deakin, managing director of its aerospace business.
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Both images © Thales UK |
Manufactured under a joint venture agreement with Elbit Systems and developed from the Israeli company’s Hermes 450 design, the Watchkeeper tactical UAV is scheduled to enter service with the British Army from 2010.
Thales meanwhile confirms that it has commenced trials using its I-Master payload’s ground moving target indication mode, and has described the results of recent synthetic aperture radar work involving the sensor as “outstanding”. The WK450 air vehicle will also carry an electro-optical/infrared payload.
Other system testing to take place this year will include demonstrations of Elbit’s Magic X-band automatic take-off and landing system, which will act as a back-up for the UAV’s double redundant, all-weather onboard landing system.
Source: FlightGlobal.com
