Cubic receives contract extension to support Watchkeeper

Air August 3, 2016

Cubic Mission Solutions (CMS), a newly formed business division of Cubic Corporation, has announced a three-year extension award of $1.4M from UAV Tactical Systems (U-TacS) to provide additional Tactical Common Data Links (TCDL) for the Ministry of Defence’s Watchkeeper unmanned aircraft system (UAS) programme.

Watchkeeper, which is recognised as Europe’s largest and most extensive UAS programme, provides the UK Armed Forces with essential Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance (ISTAR) capability.

Cubic’s high-speed and secure TCDL serves as the wireless connection for transferring data and images from UAS to ground control stations. The TCDL leverages digital signal processing to accept and process high-volume sensor data generated on the air vehicle for transmission to its ground stations. A simultaneous uplink transmits control commands to the air vehicle and its payload.

The Watchkeeper system provides continuous surveillance in all weather conditions and eliminates the need to deploy aircrews into sensitive or harmful environments. U-TacS is responsible for development, integration, test flights and manufacture of UAS subsystems, including unmanned aircraft, ground control stations and other systems.

Mike Twyman, President of Cubic Mission Solutions, said: “Cubic’s TCDL is an integral component to the Watchkeeper system as it delivers reliable, real-time data feeds to key decision makers for greater situational awareness and operational flexibility. We look forward to continuing our strong working relationship with U-TacS in providing extensive networked capabilities in support of the MOD’s Watchkeeper programme.”

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Cubic drones MOD UAV Watchkeeper