Thales lands support contract for Watchkeeper UAV

Thales MOD Watchkeeper First Flight Wales

Thales UK has been awarded a contract worth £55 million ($82.5 million) to support the British Army's Watchkeeper 450 tactical unmanned air vehicle system during its first three years of use.

Announced in the UK Defence Equipment and Support organisation's Desider publication, the deal covers the provision by Thales of "initial provisioning and support spares, repairs and maintenance", it says.

"This milestone keeps the programme on track to achieve the in-service date later this year and deliver capability into theatre as soon as possible," says Steve Waller, Watchkeeper programme manager for DE&S's unmanned air systems integrated project team.

Source: Flight Global