Two key partners unveiled for Watchkeeper bid

Citation

(2002), "Two key partners unveiled for Watchkeeper bid", Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology, Vol. 74 No. 6. https://doi.org/10.1108/aeat.2002.12774fab.032

Two key partners unveiled for Watchkeeper bid

Two key partners unveiled for Watchkeeper bid

Lockheed Martin UK Integrated Systems recently revealed that it has secured two of the UK’s top defence equipment suppliers as part of its team bidding for the Watchkeeper battlefield surveillance system.

Meggitt Defence Systems of Ashford in Kent will be providing compact tactical unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVS) to fulfil the reconnaissance needs of Brigade and Battlegroup commanders. These advanced delta-wing air vehicles have a 3m wingspan and are manufactured using the latest carbon fibre technology.

The air vehicle, named Spectre 3, is a development of their highly successful Spectre airframe that has been in service with the French artillery since the mid 1990s.

Supacat of Dunkeswell, Devon, will be providing the 66 High Mobility Truck (HMT) air portable vehicle upon which a launch ramp will be mounted. This same vehicle will also carry the ground station from which the Spectre 3 will be operated. The Supacat HMT is a new and novel design that has been developed using advanced air suspension and engine technology originated from the commercial sector.

Project Watchkeeper will use unmanned air vehicles, equipped with powerful, all weather sensors, to gather real-time imagery from behind enemy lines, and relay it to ground stations where critical intelligence will be extracted and disseminated.

Andy Head, Lockheed Martin UK Integrated Systems’ marketing director said: “Announcing these key team members demonstrates firstly our commitment to a best of breed solution; and secondly, that we acknowledge the depth of expertise and experience, already resident in the UK”.