• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • COMTECH banner

BATTLESPACE Updates

   +44 (0)77689 54766
   

  • Home
  • Features
  • News Updates
  • Defence Engage
  • Company Directory
  • About
  • Subscribe
  • Contact
  • Media Pack 2023

WATCHKEEPER THIS SPACE?

December 27, 2004 by

30 Sep 04. Sources close to BATTLESPACE suggest that £850m Watchkeeper, the flagship MoD tactical UAV procurement programme awarded to Thales in the fanfare of the Farnborough Air show has run into turbulence.

Dr Iain Watson of the Watchkeeper IPT had expected to gain Main Gate Approval by September 30th but our source suggests that two star members of the IPT had been loathe to recommend Main Gate due to funding and technical risk problems. We also believe there have been other concerns raised by outside agencies about the project.

We understand that the company has dropped the Hermes 180 option from Elbit Systems due to risk problems, only two aircraft have been built. The larger Hermes 450 aircrafts launching scenario is also believed to have been changed following concerns expressed by the Army. Thales had stated that the 450 would be catapult launched but the Army is believed to be concerned about airframe degradation problems due to multiple launches. Therefore the 450 will have to be launched from rear airfields possibly run and managed by the RAF. The RAF has always been concerned about Army non-qualified pilots flying UAVs at 10000 feet in their airspace without the required pilot experience and air tasking orders. In addition the 450 has to be landed by a soldier with a box at the side of the runway which is believed to have caused some losses in Israel. Will he be provided with a torch at night?

Thus with the loss of the smaller 180 UAV, the Army appears to be without the small tactical UAV it required for the Phoenix replacement. We believe that Phoenix will have to be kept in service longer than required. This also poses the question that, with just the 450 to use, the Army has lost its tactical UAV capability. Will this cause the project to be rethought and revisit the larger airfield capable products from firms such as General Atomics and Northrop Grumman as the 450 falls between the tactical and long-range HALE high endurance UAVs.

Why, we ask, when BATTLESPACE has discussed all the above on a number of occasions in briefings with a number of the contenders and after a £40m risk reduction exercise to both contenders, have these problems suddenly come to the surface? Was the offer from Thales and Elbit too good to lose with tight budgets, did the Army push this through to prevent the RAF getting hold of the programme, the RAF involvement was only made clear by Geoff Hoon at Farnborough or are we facing another MoD disaster caused by lack of knowledge and capability within the DPA? As one contractor told BATTLESPACE today, “We outlined where all the mines were in the minefield over two years ago and they appear to have stepped on all of them.”

Primary Sidebar

Advertisers

  • qioptiq.com
  • Exensor
  • TCI
  • Visit the Oxley website
  • Visit the Viasat website
  • Blighter
  • SPECTRA
  • Britbots logo
  • Faun Trackway
  • Systematic
  • CISION logo
  • ProTEK logo
  • businesswire logo
  • ProTEK logo
  • ssafa logo
  • AtkinsRealis logo
  • IEE
  • EXFOR logo
  • sibylline logo
  • Team Thunder logo
  • Commando Spirit - Blended Scoth Whisy
  • Comtech logo
  • GoExporting logo
  • ECHODYNE logo
  • Supercat logo
  • Galvion logo
  • Leonardo DRS logo
  • MTC logo
  • IDC logo
  • IDC logo
  • DVD2024 logo
Hilux Military Raceday Novemeber 2023 Chepstow

Contact Us

BATTLESPACE Publications
Old Charlock
Abthorpe Road
Silverstone
Towcester NN12 8TW

+44 (0)77689 54766

BATTLESPACE Technologies

An international defence electronics news service providing our readers with up to date developments in the defence electronics industry.

Recent News

  • Congress Avoids Government Shutdown

    October 1, 2023
    Read more
  • UK Forces Deployed to Kosovo

    October 1, 2023
    Read more
  • RAF Fighter Jets Deploy To Poland

    October 1, 2023
    Read more

Copyright BATTLESPACE Publications © 2002–2023.

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. If you continue to use the website, we'll assume you're ok with this.   Read More  Accept
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Non-necessary
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
SAVE & ACCEPT