- Watchkeeper WK450
Watchkeeper WK450 is a £800 million contract awarded in
July 2005 to Thales to provide theBritish Army with anunmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) for all weather, Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance (ISTAR ) use.The Watchkeeper is to be based on the
Elbit Hermes 450 UAV (designated WK450). The engine will be the rotaryWankel engine . It is intended to enter service in2010 . It will have a weight of 450 kg and a payload capacity of 150 kg, and will have a typical endurance of 17 hours.The Watchkeeper will be built in the UK by a
joint venture company, UAV Tactical Systems, set up by theIsrael i companyElbit Systems (51% ownership) and ThalesUK . UAV Engines Ltd, who will build the rotary engine in the UK, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Elbit Systems. [http://www.elbitsystems.com/aboutus.asp?id=370] The majority Israeli ownership has caused some unexpected problems obtaining U.S. export authorisation for some components. [http://www.shephard.co.uk/UVOnline/ShowReportItem.aspx?ID=ac65483b-ae81-4867-a126-e4d053a1082c]On July 15th 2007 The
UK MOD revealed to IT and Science website [http://www.theregister.co.uk The Register] that 54 watchkeepers will be delivered to theBritish Army . The average cost to the taxpayer is therefore £800m divided by 54 aircraft, approximately £15m per platform. [http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/06/15/watchkeeper_numbers_revealed/] These UAV's will be powered by the UK based company ABSL Power Solutions with high power high-energy lithium ion batteries which will be developed with production commencing end of 2008.External links
* [http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200506/cmhansrd/cm050720/wmstext/50720m02.htm Announcement of contract in the House of Commons] ,
Hansard column 86WS, 20 Jul 2005
* [http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/2005/07/uk-gives-123b-green-light-to-watchkeeper-uav/index.php UK Gives $1.23B Green Light to Watchkeeper UAV] , Defense Industry Daily, 25 July 2005
* [http://www.spyflight.co.uk/Watchkeeper.htm Watchkeeper bidders] , Spyflight
* [http://www.army-technology.com/projects/watchkeeper/ Watchkeeper Tactical UAV system] , Army-technology.com
*{http://www.army-technology.com/contractors/electrical/aea_batt/press1.html}
* [http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/06/15/watchkeeper_numbers_revealed/ UK MoD reveals Watchkeeper spy-drone numbers] , The Register
* [http://www.thalesonline.com/markets/Activities/Land-Forces/Unmanned-Aerial-Vehicles.html Watchkeeper Tactical Unmanned Air Vehicle] , Thales
*http://www.abslpower.com/news/absl_selected_for_watchkeeper_uav_emergency_battery_pack/ ABSL Power Solutions
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