Elbit Systems (Nasdaq: ESLT; TASE: ESLT) reported today that the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) and Thales UK have signed a contract worth £700 million for the development, manufacture and initial support phases of the Watchkeeper program.
Elbit Systems and Thales UK are establishing a joint venture aimed at executing a significant part of the Watchkeeper program and addressing the rapidly growing unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) market worldwide.
Elbit Systems stated that it expects to receive a significant part of the contract, valued at around £300 million, the majority being executed by the joint venture. The joint venture contract is expected to be signed this year.
Watchkeeper will provide the UK armed forces with an essential intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance (ISTAR) capability based on the Hermes 450 UAV system, and will be a key component of the UK’s network enabled capability (NEC).
The Watchkeeper system consists of the WK450 unmanned air vehicle carrying day/night sensors and laser target designator connected by a data link to a network of containerised ground control stations where army operators will control the whole mission and interface within a network enabled environment. High resolution optical and radar imagery will be exploited and disseminated to provide valuable intelligence for operational commanders. The system is capable of rapid deployment and operations anywhere in the world. Watchkeeper will support the information requirements of all three services and will be operated by the Royal Artillery.
Watchkeeper will provide the UK Armed Forces with all-weather day and night surveillance in times of war, tension or during peace-keeping operations without the need to deploy troops into sensitive areas or harmful situations. The Watchkeeper system can provide continuous 24/7 surveillance when needed, using unmanned air vehicles able to stay airborne for more than 16 hours each.
Elbit systems president and CEO Joseph Ackerman said, “We are proud to take part in such a significant program, led by Thales, which is one of the most prestigious UAV programs in the world. Thales’ teaming with Elbit Systems testifies to our advanced technological systems capabilities and substantiates our positioning as one of the leaders in the UAV market."
Ackerman expressed his hope that the joint venture established by Elbit Systems and Thales to execute the Watchkeeper program would pave the way to obtaining more UAV program in other markets in Europe and around the world. About Elbit Systems Elbit Systems Ltd. is an international defense electronics company engaged in a wide range of defense-related programs throughout the world, in the areas of aerospace, land and naval systems, command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance ("C4ISR"), advanced electro-optic and space technologies. The company focuses on the upgrading of existing military platforms and developing new technologies for defense and homeland security applications. About Thales UK Thales UK's activities encompass defence, aerospace, security and services. The company is the UK's second largest defence systems contractor and has been a supplier to the MoD since the First World War. Thales employs 10,000 staff in the UK and 60,000 people in 50 countries. In 2004, Thales UK’s revenues were £1.1bn