Watchkeeper 450
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Britain’s Watchkeeper Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Program aims to give the Royal Artillery an advanced mid-range UAV for surveillance – and possibly more. Watchkeeper will be an important system, working within a complementary suite of manned (vid. ASTOR Sentinel R1) and unmanned (Buster, Desert Hawk, MQ-9 Reaper) aerial Intelligence Surveillance Target Acquisition Reconnaissance (ISTAR) systems. This will make it a core element of the UK Ministry of Defence’s Network-Enabled Capability strategy.
The initial August 2005 contract award to Thales UK’s joint venture was worth around GBP 700 million, but that has risen, and the program expected to create or sustain up to 2,100 high-quality manufacturing jobs in the UK. The Watchkeeper platform is based on Elbit Systems’ Hermes 450 UAV platform, which is serving as a contractor-operated interim solution on the front lines of battle.
Watchkeeper: Rationale & Concept
Watchkeeper is a mid-tier ISTAR program. After its Phoenix UAV fleet was deemed unfit for purpose, something had to be done to complement Britain’s man-portable Desert Hawk and Buster UAVs at the low end, and manned platforms like the ASTOR Sentinel R1 jets at the high end. Britain bought 10 MQ-9 Reaper UAVs as an interim ISTAR/Strike platform, but they won’t be the middle tier of its aerial ISTAR assets.
That role will fall instead to the Watchkeeper platform, based on the Israeli Hermes 450 UAV. Initial costs were pegged at GBP 800 million (about $1.6 billion in June 2007), but have since risen to GBP 1.08 billion (about $1.775 billion in February 2014).
The in service dates for Watchkeeper have moved back and forth, but the concept has not. Watchkeeper is designed to provide continuous 24/7 surveillance when needed, using unmanned air vehicles able to stay airborne for more than 16 hours each through night and poor weather.
Britain expects to continue improving the platform post-delivery, and the Royal Artillery hopes to arm the UAVs by 2020. A proliferation of small precision weapons like Thales’ LMM and MBDA’s Viper-E make that very thinkable. At this point, however, the Watchkeeper program has no specifics and no schedule for that sort of thing.
WK450: The Platform
Watchkeeper: UAV
Hermes 180
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When the UK MoD announced Thales UK’s team as preferred bidders in July 2004, Watchkeeper WK180 and WK450 were based on the Elbit Hermes 180 & 450 tactical UAVs as a high-low mix. While the Hermes 180 substantially outperforms the Phoenix, Thales decided to concentrate on offering only the larger WK450 platform as a single solution that could perform all required tasks, including sensing, communication relay, and other activities. From their release:
“Where needed, two unmanned air vehicles will operate in combination (for example to allow operations by one air vehicle at low levels below clouds while maintaining line of sight communications via a second UAV flying at higher levels (acting as a communications relay). These air vehicles will now be of the same type (WK450) providing increased functionality and capability growth.”
WK450 concept –
note dual sensors
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The Hermes 450 UAV is 6.1 m long, with a 10.5 m wingspan and a maximum takeoff weight of 450 kg/ 990 pounds, making about twice the size of the Phoenix UAVs it will replace. Built using a composite structure for maximum strength and light weight, it was designed for tactical long endurance missions and has multiple-payload capability (150 kg, 300 L, 1.6 kVA). It is powered by a 52 hp rotary UEL engine that provides a maximum speed of 95 KTAS@SL, at an operating altitude up to 18,000 feet, with endurance over 20 hours – 2x the altitude, and 5x the endurance, of Phoenix. Fully redundant avionics, fully autonomous flight, and the option of control via either line-of-sight and/or satellite communication data links are included. Watchkeeper can be launched by catapult from a vehicle (truck or BvS10 Viking light tracked armor), or take off from a runway.
Watchkeeper: Sensors
I-Master insides
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The complete UAV includes at least 2 main sensor package options – COMPASS and I-Master:
CoMPASS (Compact Multi-Purpose Advanced Stabilized System) is an optical surveillance and targeting turret that provides high quality day and night imagery in black & white or color; eyesafe laser range finding, target designation and marking; superior stabilization performance; highly accurate Line of Sight (LOS) positioning capability with enhanced automatic video tracker; precise LOS angular and range data; special scan patterns; and enhanced image processing. Also known as CoMPASS IV, it is optimized for smaller platforms like UAVs and features a full digital open architecture. It weighs 38 kg/ 85 pounds and includes a 3rd generation 320×256 fpa FLIR with microscan, and Picture in Picture functions.
I-Master is a lightweight high performance radar that combines a high-resolution, all-weather Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) and a Ground Moving Target Indicator (GMTI) to detect both vehicle and infantry movements. Most high quality SAR/GMTI radars are too heavy and costly to be carried as a dual payload in tactical UAVs, but I-Master weighs just 30 kg/ 65 pounds.
At present, the UK MoD has not discussed arming Watchkeeper UAVs. Israel has reportedly armed its own Hermes 450s, so that door is presumably open if Britain changes their mind.
Watchkeeper: System
Hermes GCS Console
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The complete Watchkeeper system consists of the WK450/ Hermes 450B unmanned air vehicle carrying day/night sensors and laser target designator, connected by a data link to a network of containerized Ground Control Stations where operators will control the entire mission and interface within a network enabled environment. The Watchkeeper’s Ground Control Station will be larger, as it has been containerized to fit a 20′ ISO shipping container format. The result is more straightforward transportability, more room inside (including room for an Image Analyst when needed), and the potential for growth in its electronics.
The GCS will be carried by standard Supacat DROPS trucks supplied as Government Furnished Equipment, and might also be towable using BvS10 vehicles equipped with devices like Amaze-N-Tow. The system is capable of rapid deployment and operations anywhere in the world.
Watchkeeper: Team and Program
Thales UK and its team were selected in July 2004 as preferred bidders for this final phase of the Watchkeeper program. As part of that effort, Thales has established a joint company called U-TacS in Leicester, England with Elbit Systems. The ownership split is 49% Thales/ 51% Elbit Systems, and Elbit is the firm’s largest subcontractor; they will execute approximately 1/3 of the UK contract’s value. Elbit notes, however, that the majority of U-TacS’ activity will be executed in the UK, with a significant amount of its work sub-contracted to small and medium sized enterprises across the country.
The total program currently involves 54 UAVs, and 15 ground stations.
UAV Tactical Systems Limited (U-TacS) manufactures sub-systems for Watchkeeper, and for the rapidly growing worldwide UAV market. Thales estimates that their production could be worth up to $3 billion over the next 10 years, or approximately double the size of the Watchkeeper program. Thales UK claims their consortium will create or sustain up to 2,100 high technology jobs throughout the UK supply chain, adding that “exports are expected to increase this total to 2500.” The industrial Watchkeeper team includes:
Thales UK in Crawley, Wells, Leicester, Glasgow, Bury St. Edmunds, St Asaph, Taunton, and Staines. Prime Contractor responsible for systems integration, engineering, and manufacturing.
Elbit Systems (UAV Engines Ltd) in Lichfield. UAV design, UAV engines.
Advanced Composites Group. Materials and epoxy.
Cubic Corporation in Greenford, UK. Datalinks, esp. for transferring time critical information from multiple UAVs operating in the same geographical area without mutual interference. Also their Multi-Service Target Control System Data Link Transceiver (MDLT), developed for command and control of multiple UAVs from a single ground station.
LogicaCMG in Leatherhead, UK. Digital battlespace integration.
Lola Composites Ltd. in Huntingdon, UK. Composite structure assembly.
Marshall SV in Cambridge, UK. Ground station shelters and support.
Praxis in Bath, UK. Program safety.
The UK’s QinetiQ defense research firm. Airworthiness consultancy and image data management.
Supacat in Honiton, UK. Wheeled ground vehicles – though BAE Hagglunds’ tracked BvS10 Vikings will also be used;
Vega in Welwyn Garden City, Bristol, Fareham. Training;
Boeing in London (joined March 8/04 to support future US/UK interoperability, partner in the scheduled technology and capability upgrades);
Cobham in Wimborne & Dorset. The existing supplier of UAVs and launchers for the British Army’s ill-fated Phoenix program, joined the team July 5/04.
Hermes 450
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According to the UK NAO’s 2004 Major Projects Report, Watchkeeper was due to enter service in November 2006; the 2004 Parliamentary Defence Committee reports gave a similar time frame. The August 2005 contract signing placed the initial in-service date at 2010 instead, but forces in the field needed them earlier.
To address this, a service was bought from U-TacS on a “capability service provision basis,” which is government-speak for “rented”. Thales retains ownership of the standard Hermes 450 drones, which are operated and maintained by applicable units like 32 Regiment Royal Artillery. Contractors are supplied by U-TacS (a joint Thales and Elbit company) for deployed operations, and provide support in theater. When Watchkeeper’s delivery date slipped by almost 2 years, those rent-a-drones ensured that a Plan B was in place.
This sort of thing has become commonplace. Countries renting UAVs for use on the front lines in Afghanistan include the USA (ScanEagle), Australia (ScanEagle, Heron-1), Canada (Heron-1), Germany (Heron-1), and the Netherlands (Aerostar), among others.
Pre-Watchkeeper U-TacS services began operations in Iraq in July 2007, and began operations in Afghanistan in September 2007. The service reached full operating capability in early 2008, and continues to this day. Those rentals will keep going for a while, as the UAVs have not been released to service. A January 2014 NAO report now places Watchkeeper initial release to service in mid-2014, and Full Operating Capability around September 2015.
Could Watchkeeper earn export orders?
Elbit Systems Hermes 450 is a popular base model. This UAV is currently in service or on order with Israel, Azerbaijan, Brazil, Colombia, Crotaia, Georgia, Mexico, Singapore, the UK (as Watchkeeper), and the USA (Department of Homeland Security Border Patrol, US military’s Joint UAV Joint Test and Evaluation platform), among other countries.
Watchkeeper would compete with the Hermes 450 for international orders, and there are no exports at this point. France is reportedly ordering a single trial system, which may lead to wider adoption in future. The most intriguing option may be Poland, whose government wanted by buy Hermes 450s from Elbit. Unfortunately, IAI’s counter-tactics created a diplomatic incident big enough for Israel to ban both competitors from exporting there. A purchase from Britain is one way to solve that problem.
Contracts & Key Events
2014-2015
Handover and beginning of training; NAO report; Commons Defence Committee report; Royal Artillery wants Watchkeepers armed; WK450 subject to US ITAR; Opportunity in Poland?
WK450
October 5/15: The UK’s Watchkeeper UAV program has come under fire for cost overruns, with the majority of the 33 delivered Watchkeepers in storage despite a price tag of GBP1.2 billion ($2.4 billion). The program’s Initial Operating Capability timetable of 2017 is unlikely to be met, with only six British Army pilots trained to use the system. In total 54 Watchkeepers are due to enter service, with only three having seen very limited active service in Afghanistan. The news comes as British Prime Minister David Cameron announced on Sunday that he plans to double the UK’s fleet of UAVs.
Sept 29/14: After a long series of delays, the UK Ministry of Defence announces the 1st operational flights of Watchkeeper in Afghanistan. Sources: Thales, “Thales welcomes Watchkeeper operations for British Army in Afghanistan”.
July 29/14: The UK government responds to the Commons Defence committee’s RPAS report (q.v. March 11/14). There’s no decision yet re: Afghan deployment, but there are some lessons learned per the Committee’s request.
Software certification and electronic technical publications provided unpleasant surprises, project governance needed to change, and finding and training qualified personnel was an issue. The tone of the report, however, places a different risk in the pole position:
“An underestimation of the challenges of delivering sufficient quality evidence to underpin the Watchkeeper System Safety Case led to the delay to the achievement of the system Release to Service. This lesson has informed the Scavenger and Future Combat Air programmes where Airworthiness Certification has been highlighted as one of the key risks to success driving appropriate levels of contingency.”
Sources: UK House of Commons Select Committee on Defense, “Remote Control: Remotely Piloted Air Systems – current and future UK use – Defence Committee: Government Response”.
March 11/14: Report. The UK House of Commons Defense Committee releases “Remote Control: Remotely Piloted Air Systems – current and future UK use.” With respect to the 5-UAV, GBP 847 million Watchkeeper program, it’s now 3 years behind schedule due to flight certification and other issues, and the incorporation of an American de-icing system will subject it to US ITAR export control laws. That could be especially troublesome if future Watchkeepers are armed, the Royal Artillery “has aspirations” to arm them. At this point, however, the program has no specifics and no schedule for that sort of thing.
Meanwhile, the report describes Civil Aviation Authority limitations on training in Britain as “the greatest constraint upon the operation of military UAS within the UK”. The Committee doesn’t think Watchkeeper isn’t going to deploy to Afghanistan, so this is going to become a pressing issue once initial training is done at Boscombe Down. Fortunately, Watchkeeper partner Thales is also one of the leading industry players in the GBP 30 million ASTREA (Autonomous Systems Technology Related Airborne Evaluation & Assessment) consortium, which is helping to develop a roadmap for use of UAS outside of military segregated airspace. The WK450 is being fitted with a system that will make it compliant with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards, but a full solution is still a few years away.
Across the Channel, France is conducting an Operational Assessment per the 2012 summit terms, with help from the UK under a Memorandum of Understanding that provides access to Boscombe Down and the loan of British equipment to enable live flying in France. A procurement decision is expected by the end of 2014. Sources: See “Additional Readings” section for links.
March 5/14: Handover. The UK MoD announces that Watchkeeper has been cleared to begin military flight training with the Royal Artillery from Boscombe Down in Wiltshire. The 600+ flight-hours to date have involved UTacS personnel at the controls, so this is effectively the beginning of release to service. They’re rather late, as initial plans would have reached this stage before the end of 2011.
The Army’s flights will take place in restricted airspace over the Salisbury Plain Training Area, at an altitude of 8,000 – 16,000 feet, and will be overseen by military air traffic controllers. Sources: UK MoD, “Army cleared to fly next-generation eye-in-the-sky” | Flight Global, “British Army to start Watchkeeper flights in April” | The Telegraph, “Watchkeeper: the army’s latest ‘spy in the sky'”.
Initial Release to Service
Feb 10/14: Poland. IAI went too far in disputing Poland’s preference for its Israeli rival Elbit Systems’ Hermes 450 UAV. How far? So far that the resulting controversies forced Poland’s Deputy Minister of Defence to resign, and damaged diplomatic relations between Israel and Poland. Israel’s Ministry of Defense was very unamused, and reacted by barring both firms from exporting UAVs to Poland. Israel’s Aeronautics DS, which has already exported Orbiter mini-UAV systems to Poland, should be thrilled. Except that they had their own contract for Aerostar UAVs canceled in 2012 on performance grounds, with damages sought.
If Poland really wants the Hermes 450, they could probably circumvent Israel’s ban by ordering the derivative Watchkeeper MK450 system from Thales in Britain. Sources: Globes, “Defense Ministry nixes UAV sale to Poland” | Ha’aretz, “Polish official accused of illicitly favoring Israel-made drones” [July 2013] | sUAS News, “Polish MoD Cancels Contract with Israeli UAV Supplier” [October 2012].
Feb 5/14: NAO Report. The UK NAO releases its Major Projects Authority Annual Report, which covers the entire British government. A report focused on the MoD will come later, but Watchkeeper has earned a place in this report as a red-tagged project, and has its costs and issues discussed. Why?
“The red rating reflects the delay in achieving Release to Service. The programme has been slowed by more stringent software certification requirements than anticipated, the rectification of a small number of safety ? critical deficiencies in the system’s technical publications, and errors in the training courseware….. In March 2013, the Authority raised serious concerns that the Release to Service date would not be met, but acknowledged that the target of reaching Full Operating Capability of Watchkeeper in September 2015 was more attainable. A Departmental review of the programme is under way [to re-evaluate timelines]…. Equipment deliveries remain on track and over 900 hours of flight trials have taken place, as of October 2013.”
Training on the new system began in January 2014, and Watchkeeper is scheduled for initial Release to Service in early 2014. Which would be a bit more than 3 yewars late. Sources: UK NAO, “Major Projects Authority Annual Report 2012?13 and government project assurance”.
2011 – 2013
UK delays and crashes a problem; France will evaluate Watchkeeper.
WK450 flight trials
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September 2013: The UK’s Military Aviation Authority (MAA) provides a Statement of Type Design Assurance for Watchkeeper, confirming its airworthiness. Sources: UK NAO, “Major Projects Authority Annual Report 2012?13 and government project assurance”.
Feb 13/13: The Guardian reports the results of a freedom of Information request concerning British UAV crashes since 2007, which have cut the overall fleet in about half. Crashes include 1 of their 10 Reaper armed UAVs; 9 Hermes 450s (8 Afghanistan, 1 Iraq) over 75,000 flight hours; 412 Desert Hawk mini-UAVs over more than 30,000 missions; and 25 rotary wing RQ-16 Tarantula Hawk UAVs and Black Hornet mini-UAVs.
“Faced with a mounting bill for the crashes, and fewer UAVs to use, the MoD has admitted that it is trying “to increase airmanship standards in a number of areas” by updating training courses. But officials also insist the drones are being worked hard in difficult conditions, and breakdowns are to be expected…. Despite the high loss rate, the military believes the Desert Hawk still provides “indispensable and flexible” intelligence to UK ground forces – and value for money.”
That may be so, but these crash figures are going to make civil certification challenging.
Watchkeeper test
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Jan 7/13: Size & cost. In response to written questions from MPs Alison Seabeck [Lab – Plymouth Moor View], Under Secretary of State for Defence Philip Dunne [Cons – Ludlow] discusses the Watchkeeper program. He affirms that the program involves 54 UAVs and 15 ground stations, and admits that formal airworthiness certification is taking longer than expected. He implies that this thoroughness is necessary because the WK450 will be the “first large unmanned air system to fly in UK airspace,” without mentioning crash rates.
Program and support costs will be declining over the next 3 years, from GBP 73 million, to GBP 59 million, to GBP 28 million. With respect to costs in Afghanistan:
“The cost to the Government of supporting Hermes 450 in Afghanistan since September 2010 has been [GBP] 61.3 million. This has been funded from the net additional cost of Military Operations element of the Treasury Reserve, which would in any case have been drawn upon to support Watchkeeper had it deployed on time.”
Oct 24/12: Crashes. From Hansard. MP Angus Robertson [SNP – Moray] asks Minister of State for Defence Maj. Andrew Robathan (ret.) [Cons, South Leicestershire and former SAS] about Britain’s experience with the Hermes. The reply reveals a large number of crashes, and some concern about training and pilot quality or adaptation:
“Mr Robathan: The Hermes 450 Unmanned Aerial Vehicle is not flown in the UK nor have there been any crashes in the UK. [DID: Watchkeeper prototypes are being excluded; they have flown in the UK]
Since 2007 there have been 11 Hermes 450 crashes in Afghanistan.
An end-to-end review for army unmanned aerial systems training has recently been conducted which reported at the end of September 2012. As a result, several changes have already been made to unmanned aerial systems training to increase airmanship standards in a number of areas, with further improvements to follow.”
Hermes’ high crash rate
July 25/12: Following a meeting in London, defense ministers from the UK and France confirm that France will buy 1 WK450B Watchkeeper system for operational assessments and trials in 2012 and 2013. Watchkeeper is currently late, with the gap being filled by leased Hermes 450 UAVs from Elbit. Thales states that Watchkeeper is currently undergoing field trials with the British Army, and has completed more than 400 test flights.
They also agreed on a joint EUR 13 million (about $15.7 million) UCAV research study by BAE (Taranis) and Dassault (nEUROn lead). A coming contract will link Rolls-Royce, whose Adour engine powers both Taranis and nEUROn, with France’s Safran in a joint study for future UCAV engine options.
What did not happen, is any kind of collaboration announcement on an Anglo-French medium-altitude, long-endurance (MALE) UAV, like the Dassault/BAE Telemos. That’s the very category Watchkeeper could end up replacing, as a smaller but adequate solution. Defense News | Thales Group.
France in
Feb 17/12: France, too? Britain & France follow up on their Nov 2/10 cooperation statement, saying that as one of their joint UAV efforts, France will evaluate the Watchkeeper:
“France confirms its interest for the Watchkeeper system recognising the opportunities this would create for cooperation on technical, support, operational and development of doctrine and concepts. An evaluation of the system by France will begin in 2012, in the framework of its national procurement process, and conclude in 2013.”
The Elbit/Thales MK450B Watchkeeper is smaller and less capable than France’s Harfang Heron derivatives, and much smaller than France’s chosen Heron TP interim UAV or Telemos bi-national MALE project. Still, it is a Medium Altitude, Long Endurance class UAV. Depending on what France chooses to do, it could either complement the Harfang fleet after 2013, or become a Heron substitute. UK Prime Minister | Defense-Aerospace.
Nov 16/11: NAO. The British NAO releases its Major Projects Report 2011. This isn’t good:
“The most significant changes were a 12-month delay in the timetable for the Watchkeeper unmanned aerial vehicle project, which was largely due to the contractor’s failing to deliver against the agreed schedule…”
June 13/11: Under review. The UK Ministry of Defence’s Major Projects Review Board meets for the first time. Watchkeeper is 1 of 3 projects on its initial list for scrutiny, and its main contract value is listed at GBP 635 million.
The MBRP can take a page from the Australian playbook and designate “Projects of Concern.” This would be a blow to the program, but in the end, they decided not to do so for Watchkeeper. UK MoD.
Jan 17/11: IHS Jane’s reports that the 2011 spending and planning round (PR11) will feature a number of cuts, including a program to arm the Watchkeeper UAVs. Britain already fields the larger MQ-9 Reaper UAV, which can be heavily armed.
2009 – 2010
Interim Hermes 450 rentals extended; WK450 Testing.
RAF Hermes 450
rent-a-drones
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Oct 24/10: Rental extension. UAS Tactical Systems Ltd. (U-TacS) in Leicester, UK receives a follow-on Urgent Operating Capability (UOR) contract worth approximately $70 million, to continue providing its rent-a-UAV service to the UK’s Armed Forces over the next 18 months.
As was the case with the previous U-TacS UOR contracts, awarded in 2007 and 2009, this contract also includes the provision and support of Hermes 450 UAS systems, training for UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) staff in the use and maintenance of the system, and the provision of contractor logistic support (CLS) and program management services. Elbit Systems.
More rentals
April 15/10: Support. UPI reports that UAS Tactical Systems Ltd. (UTacS) has received a $70 million contract from Thales UK, to provide logistics support services for the Watchkeeper program over the next 3 years.
April 14/10:
A bit later than expected, but the maiden UK flight of a production configuration Watchkeeper UAV happens in a 20-mnute flight from Parc Aberporth in West Wales. Thales UK. Thales UK.
1st production flight
April 12/10: Rentals. The stop-gap Hermes 450s operated by UTacS as contractor-leased UAV services have now flown more than 30,000 operational hours over more than 2,000 sorties. The release adds that the UAVs are providing most of the surveillance used by British forces in Afghanistan, and the October 2010 end of contract could be extended until April 2011. Thales UK | Defence Management | Shephard Group.
April 7/10: Sub-contractors. Advanced Composites Group announces that it has been qualified by Elbit Systems to supply materials for the construction of the Thales Watchkeeper 450 (WK450) Unmanned Air Vehicle (UAV). The UAv is apparently constructed from ACG’s LTM 26EL prepregs and MTM 46 epoxy prepreg system, with the build carried out by Lola Composites Ltd. in Huntingdon, UK and integrated at UTacS in Leicester, UK. JEC Composites.
Aug 13/09: Testing. Thales UK announces that Watchkeeper successfully completed a key set of inaugural flights in June 2009, which will allow the system to progress to a series of ground system and flight trials at Parc Aberporth in West Wales in late 2009.
The test flights included all elements of the system and sub-system, including radar controlled Automatic Take-Off and Landing System (ATOLS), Autonomous Systems Flight Control, Ground Control Station, data links, video imagery downlink, Electro Optic / Infrared (EO/IR) and Synthetic Aperture Radar with Ground Moving Target Indicator (SAR/GMTI) payloads. Flight trials also took place from a semi-prepared landing strip with rough ground and obstacles, demonstrating an ability to operate from open fields with minimum preparation.
Work continues with the development of payloads, software, flight management and ground infrastructure systems.
April 14/09: Sub-contractors. Shepard Group reports that QinetiQ has delivered infrastructure to support the Watchkeeper’s unmanned air trials program at Parc Aberporth, Ceredigion, as part of a GBP 5 million contract. Thales is now clear to migrate the trials program to the UK by October 2009. Initial live flying elements of the operator training are expected to commence in March 2010, contributing to systems acceptance and deployment in October 2010.
2007 – 2008
Interim Hermes 450 rentals begin; Phoenix UAV ends; A Viking companion.
In for a Landing
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Nov 24/08: Testing. Thales UK announces a successful 1st set of system flight trials at Elbit’s facilities in Israel. The UAV was controlled by the WATCHKEEPER Ground Control Station using software produced by Thales UK at its Crawley facility.
These trials of the UAV, which operates with dual payloads, will continue into 2009, and will validate the key mission system capability of the WATCHKEEPER system. Full WATCHKEEPER systems trials will begin in the UK in 2009. Remaining test program objectives include:
System command and control of UAV from WATCHKEEPER GCS
Initial assessment of system data link performance
Dual payload installation
Generation and exploitation of payload imagery (the ‘imagery chain’)
Avionics system trials (IFF and airborne radio assessment)
Further systems ATOLS assessment
Electrical power system performance with dual payloads installed
August 2008: Demonstration of the Watchkeeper UAV’s Automatic Take-Off and landing (ATOL) capability. Source.
April 16/08: Testing. The Hermes 450B Watchkeeper UAV makes its first flight from Elbit’s Megiddo airfield facility in northern Israel. Interesting scholarly side note: “Mount Megiddo” is “Har Megiddon” in Hebrew. Say that one slowly, and you’ll understand.
The rest of 2008 will see testing and integration of the automatic take-off and landing (ATOL) system, the I-Master radar and EO/IR/LTD payloads including the COMPASS EO/IR system and the I-Master radar. Thales release.
Watchkeeper flies
April 14/08: Flight International reports that the British Army’s Elbit Systems Hermes 450 deployment in Afghanistan and Iraq has reached a total of 7,000 flying hours. Lessons learned are being rolled into the Watchkeeper program.
March 31/08: Farewell, Phoenix. Phoenix UAVs officially go out of service, to be replaced by the WATCHKEEPER system in 2010. During the interim, the Lydian Hermes 450 System will be used and is currently operating in both Iraq and Afghanistan. UK MoD release.
Phoenix UAV retired
Watchkeeper display
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Sept 12/07: Jane’s International Defence Review reports that the British Army is set to increase the operational tempo of its Hermes 450 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in Afghanistan and Iraq, after completing more than 1,000 flying hours since deployment in July 2007.
Sept 11/07: Rentals. U-TacS has obviously received clearance to discuss its Hermes 450 UAV’s work in theater and key milestone dates, via a press release. It states that:
“Within only two weeks of IOC [DID: July 5/07], due to the intensity of operations, the UAV systems have been called upon to provide consistent and reliable ISTAR coverage over extended periods with only a 90-minute turn-around time before returning to station: “a truly reliable and stunning performance for our UK troops,” according to a senior officer in theatre. “The H-450 ISTAR capability allows immediate and rapid reaction to a threat, with unmatched flexibility and minimum maintenance to support UK forces in adverse conditions. It’s made a considerable difference to our capability.”
July 5/07: Rentals. Initial Operational Capability declared for Britain’s Hermes 450 systems.
June 20/07: Rentals. First Hermes 450 UAV flight in theater.
June 14/07: First in-theater delivery of Watchkeeper systems to British forces in Iraq. That was quick. It’s likely that these are actually the standard Hermes 450 UAVs, bought through the rental agreement.
June 14/07: Final version? Thales unveils production WATCHKEEPER air vehicle design. “Thales UK has unveiled the final configuration of the WATCHKEEPER unmanned air vehicle (UAV) following a Critical Design Review by the Ministry of Defence (MoD).”
June 7/07: Rentals. Elbit Systems and Thales announce that U-TacS has received an urgent ISTAR(intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and reconnaissance) support contract from Britain’s armed forces, “to provide unmanned air vehicle (UAV) systems to support UK forces on current operations.” The $110 million contract covers a program that:
“…will commence immediately and will take place over the next few years. The contract includes Hermes(R) 450 UAV systems, as well as training of the UK MoD staff in use and maintenance of the system, and the provision of contractor logistic support (CLS) and program management services. This work will be managed from the U-TacS facility in Leicester, UK, which currently employs approximately 100 personnel.”
Thales UK CEO Alex Dorrian, CEO of Thales UK, confirms that this will result in fielded vehicles long before the formal 2010 in-service date:
“It is very important for industry to be able to react quickly in this way to provide support to emerging requirements. As an additional benefit the experience that UK forces will gain in operating this equipment will give an insight into the greater capability that WATCHKEEPER will offer when it comes into service at the end of the decade.”
See Elbit release [PDF] | Thales release.
Initial rent-a-UAV interim deal
May 10/07: Israeli civil certification Elbit’s Hermes 450 UAV Gets Civil Certification In Israel. This is a first step toward broader civil certification, which is a major UAV focus for the EU’s European Defence Agency. If that kind of civil certification is possible in Europe, it would open up a wide variety of domestic roles for UAVs like the Watchkeeper. In Israel’s case, of course, the line between civil and military airspace is much foggier, owing to the country’s small size and the widespread distribution of terror attacks against it.
Israeli civil cert
BvS10 during UK trials
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May 2/07: New role for the Viking. The UK Ministry of Defence has awarded BAE Systems Hagglunds a contract for another 21 BvS10 Viking armoured all-terrain vehicles. This order is in addition to an earlier batch of 108 that began delivery to the UK’s Royal Marine Commandos in July 2003.
The armored all-terrain vehicles will be used as an equipment transporter for the UK’s new Mk450 Watchkeeper UAV system. Prototype vehicles are scheduled for delivery at the end of 2007, with production deliveries to commence in the second half of 2008.
Viking tow
2004 – 2006
From preferred bidder to contract and 1st flight.
ParcAberporth landing
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Dec 20/05: Sub-contractors. Thales UK announces that Watchkeeper sensor packages will include Elbit El-Op’s CoMPASS advanced electro-optical surveillance & targeting system, and a variant of the Thales UK I-Master radar system. Both systems are detailed above. Thales release | Elbit Systems release [PDF].
Oct 28/05: Sub-contractors. UAV Tactical Systems Limited (U-TacS) receives a GBP 317 million order (over $500 million), to be performed over an 8-year period.
This event also marks the formal announcement and naming of the U-TacS joint venture. Elbit Systems’ release [PDF format] notes that U-TacS’ financial statements will be consolidated within their financial reports.
Sept 7/05: The first flight of a large UAV in UK airspace takes place at the ParcAberporth Unmanned Systems event in Wales, using a Hermes 450 UAV. The Hermes 450 took off early in the day and maintained constant surveillance during the event. The UAV is able to remain airborne for over 16 hours. High-resolution imagery from the UAV’s optical and infra-red sensors was transmitted to the ground by a data link and displayed on large screens at the ParcAberporth event.
This is the first time a large UAV has been certified to fly in UK airspace; he Civil Air Traffic Movement Log recorded the UAV’s sortie through civil airspace and as with all flights it displayed the aircraft type, number of passengers and call sign. For the first time ever it showed “zero” people on board. The call sign was “UAV Silver 01”. Thales UK release.
1st UK UAV flight
August 4/05: The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) and Thales UK announce a contract worth GBP 700 million (about $1.24 billion at the time) for the full Development, Manufacture and Initial Support (DMIS) phases of the WATCHKEEPER program. “This programme will deliver equipment, training and facilities, with the capability coming into service from 2010.” Thales UK release.
Development contract
July 21/05: Thles UK announces that the Watchkeeper program’s initial phase has received “best practices” recognition from the UK National Audit Office (NAO). See full NAO case study here [PDF format].
Like its U.S. GAO counterpart, the NAO is responsible for scrutinizing public spending on behalf of Parliament, and the Major Projects Report monitors the performance of all major defense projects. Phase Three of the report, which details good practice and improvements, used Watchkeeper as a case study, highlighting its bid processes, program structure and adherence to supply chain relationship code of practice which seek “to promote better team working with the contractor.”
July 20/04: Preferred bidder. Thales UK’s consortium is the preferred bidder for the Watchkeeper ISTAR program. Thales UK release.
Appendix A: Phoenix’s Ashes
No rebirth here:
the Phoenix UAV
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Watchkeepers will fill a role that had been occupied, but became vacant due to poor performance. Britain has operated Phoenix UAVs for several years, but the program had been something of an embarrassment and their limitations were well known. General Fulton testified to the UK’s Parliamentary Defense Committee in early 2004 that:
“In terms of effectiveness of UAVs, yes, the Americans made a lot of use of them. The Americans, as we know, have a much greater variety of them and they have developed them much further than we have, but nevertheless, there is a great deal of investment going in this country to improve or to increase the use that we make of them. As far as Phoenix is concerned, Phoenix has been a much maligned equipment in the past, but was identified by General Brims as one of his war winners and he certainly found it extremely useful, with all its known shortcomings. Yes, the attrition rate was high… In terms of causes of loss, technical reasons are believed to account for the majority of those that were lost… Phoenix is very much a last-generation air vehicle and a last-generation system… We are not going to go out and buy more Phoenix. Watchkeeper is due in service in 2005-06 and will provide a two-step change in our capability in the information-gathering capability that will be provided… We are very keen not to make changes to the Watchkeeper requirement, so that we do not keep chasing the latest requirement, and we do not fall into the same trap we fell into with Bowman [radios].”
Spyflight, not normally prone to histrionics, is less reticent about Phoenix:
“A total of 23 were lost in Gulf War II, between Mar-Apr 03, where it was nicknamed the ‘Bugger-Off’ by British troops because they generally never returned from a sortie – the residents of Basra are welcome to them.”
One can add another 12 Phoenix UAVs reportedly lost during NATO operations in Kosovo, including 2 lost to enemy fire.
Additional Readings and Sources
Background: Watchkeeper Program
UK MoD Fact Sheet – Watchkeeper. 2007 snapshot. More about the program than the platform.
UK MoD – Network Enabled Capability (NEC) – Joint Services Publication 777 (JSP 777). 2005 snapshot.
UK Parliamentary Defence Committee (March 3/04) – Select Committee on Defence Third Report, Ch. 9: Major Defence Equipment. Includes testimony re: effectiveness in Iraq.
Background: Watchkeeper UAV & Ancillaries
Elbit Systems – Hermes 450 – Tactical Long Endurance UAS
Army-Technology.com – Watchkeeper Tactical UAV System, United Kingdom
Defence Update – Hermes 450 and WK 450 Watchkeeper
Israeli Weapons – Hermes 450
Elbit systems El-op – Airborne Applications: Stabilized Payloads
Thales UK (July 20/04) – Thales launches I-MASTER, new lightweight high performance surveillance radar. Includes some performance characteristics, provides more information than Thales Group’s Surveillance Radars page (2007 snapshot).
Background: Related UAVs
DID – Size Matters: Elbit’s Hermes 900 MALE UAV. Larger, Predator-sized variant with more endurance and payload. U-TacS could be changed to offer it, if a customer wanted it.
Elbit Systems – Hermes 180. Smaller UAV, originally to have served as Watchkeeper’s low end. Dropped by Thales between their selection as preferred bidder and the contract signing, and no longer promoted by Elbit
DID – Britain’s RAF Buying up to 10 MQ-9 Reaper UAVs. They bought all 10, which serve a tier above Watchkeeper as Britain’s high-end, armed UAVs.
Army Technology – Phoenix Unmanned Aerial Vehicle, United Kingdom
Spyflight UK – Phoenix UAV. Not complimentary.
Wikipedia – BAE Systems Phoenix.
Aeronautics.RU – The Rise and Fall of Phoenix [dead link]. First line: “It is not often that a piece of modern military equipment becomes a museum exhibit so soon after entering service…”
News & Views
UK Parliament House of Commons Defence Committee (March 11/14) – Remote Control: Remotely Piloted Air Systems – current and future UK use. Full Report, Volume 1 [PDF] | Volume 2 | Government’s Response.
UK MoD (Aug 30/13) – Desert Rats prepare for Afghanistan.
UK MoD (Oct 3/11) – Defence Secretary confirms first project of concern. Not Watchkeeper, though it’s 1 of the 3 under review, and will be revisited.
Defence Management (Aug 19/09)