Thales
UK's Watchkeeper proposal included a large UAV and a smaller
UAV, support equipment and ground stations. The air vehicle
will be capable of carrying a range of sensors including
day and night cameras and surveillance radars.
Two
WK450 air vehicles will be able to operate in tandem, with
the second acting as a communications relay. The ground
control station will be network enabled to ensure comprehensive
communications links, for example to airborne stand-off
radar, attack aircraft and battlegroup headquarters.
The
Watchkeeper air vehicle, designated WK450, will be based
on the Elbit 450 Hermes tactical UAV. The Hermes 450 is
a proven system with 20,000 flying hours in service. In
2003, the Elbit Hermes 450 system was accepted by the US
Naval Air Station Fallon Joint UAV Test and Evaluation Centre
in Nevada for joint interoperability trials.
The
air vehicle can be pre-programmed to carry out fully autonomous
missions and can be redirected in flight by the operator
on the ground. Take-off and landing can be piloted or automatic
using Elbit's Magic X-band automatic take-off and landing
system. The air vehicle is equipped with global positioning
systems, dual computers and dual datalinks. The electrical
and avionics systems have built in redundancy for increased
reliability. |
