Defence Online

Keeping a watch on Unmanned Warrior

Maritime October 16, 2016

Watchkeeper will be keeping an eye on proceedings of the Unmanned Warrior event being held off the coast of Scotland this October.

The opening phases of the autonomous technology event will see Watchkeeper flying offshore for the first time, operating alongside a Type 23 warship and merchant vessel.

Thales will deploy Watchkeeper seaward: flying out and spotting the ships passing by and feeding its visual and radar picture back to the Royal Navy demonstration HQ vessel MV Northern River in the Irish Sea.

The involvement of the UAS is part of Joint Warrior 2016 to which Unmanned Warrior is operationally linked. Watchkeeper was developed from the Hermes 450 procured for British Army operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. From the start these UAVs were very much in the business of looking, developing so called SA or Situational Awareness in preparation for manoeuvres on the ground.

Following the event, Watchkeeper will be assessed for its benefits to situational awareness; how much does it help SA at sea? Does it improve what warships can find out for themselves or with their helicopters (electronically as well as visually)? If so, for how long and how accurately? Is it reliable? Is it safe?

Watch an interview with Lt Cdr Paul Spillane on using Watchkeeper and its maritime radar at Unmanned Warrior 2016 here:

Image:© Crown Copyright

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Post written by: Vicky Maggiani

Vicky has worked in media for over 20 years and has a wealth of experience in editing and creating copy for a variety of sectors.