A group led by Thales is cracking open the champagne after being named the preferred bidder for the UK's Ministry of Defence (MoD) £800m ($15.2m) Watchkeeper Tactical Unmanned Air Vehicle (UAV) programme. Assuming a contract is subsequently signed the win could mean up to 2,500 new high technology jobs for the UK.
Geoff Hoon, UK secretary of state for defence, broke the news at a Farnborough breakfast briefing yesterday. Hoon said: "Today's decision, which gives Thales Defence Ltd preferred bidder status, marks an important step for this hugely significant military programme. [Their bid] offers the best value for money and potential to deliver the required capability."
He said negotiations would now continue with a view to a contract being signed in due course. The Watchkeeper Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance (ISTAR) system should enter service in 2006.
Rumours that Thales were favourites have been circulating over the past month.
Alex Dorrian, chief executive, Thales UK, says: "This win shows what can happen when people all pull in the same direction. It will establish the UK as a major player in the field of both UAVs and Network Enabled Capability (NEC).
"Based on an endorsement of our solution we expect to secure around £400m ($760m) worth of export orders that will also be fulfilled in the UK."
The Thales team, which includes Elbit Systems, LogicaCMG, Marshall SV, Cobham, Cubic Corporation, Boeing, Vega, QinetiQ, Praxis and Supacat, beat a group led by Northrop Grumman.
Strengthened
The team was strengthened last month by the inclusion of Cobham, which supplies UAVs and launchers to the British Army's Phoenix programme.
Watchkeeper will include electro-optical and radar-equipped UAVs that can pass data to mobile ground stations. Intelligence gained from the UAVs will give battle commanders better tactical information.
The big winner will undoubtedly be British industry. Thales says that Watchkeeper will create up to 2,100 new high technology jobs in the UK, increasing to 2,500 if and when the company starts exporting UAVs. This rapidly growing worldwide market is estimated to be worth around £3bn ($5.7bn) over the next 10 years.
STEVE NICHOLS
Source: Flight Daily News
