UK Transfers Watchkeeper UAVs to Helicopter Command

The British Army operates 32 Watchkeeper UAVs. The goal is to improve the day-to-day efficiency of operational training and tasking

UK Transfers Watchkeeper UAVs to Helicopter Command

Source: British Army

According to janes.com, The British Army is to transfer day-to-day command of the UK's Thales WK450 Watchkeeper unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to the Joint Helicopter Command (JHC) in a bid to smooth its entry into front-line service. The Watchkeeper UAV is based on Elbit System's Hermes 450.

Army sources said that the switch would take place at the end of August with the aim of concentrating all the service's large air assets under a single umbrella organization.

The Andover-based JHC brings together Royal Air Force, Royal Navy, and Army Air Corps transport, utility, and attack helicopters under a single command. The British Army's Force Troops Command currently controls the units of Royal Artillery equipped with Watchkeeper. The Watchkeeper will continue to be operated by 32 and 47 Regiments of the Royal Artillery, both based at Larkhill. By moving the Watchkeeper to JHC it is hoped that the crews who operate it will benefit from exposure to "best practice" and "improved air mindedness", said an army source familiar with the plans.

Some 32 Watchkeeper UAVs were in service with the British Army on 1 March, according to data released by the Ministry of Defence under the Freedom of Information Act.

An army spokesperson told IHS Jane's, "the operational command of Watchkeeper will be transferred to Joint Helicopter Command; bringing the army's larger air assets into one organization and improving the day-to-day efficiency of operational training and tasking."

 

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