The Watchkeeper, operated by the 47 Regiment Royal Artillery, plays a crucial role in modern military operations. This advanced system is normally based at Larkhill on Salisbury Plain in the UK but has been deployed to Estonia under a broader initiative to strengthen regional security. The aircraft, provided under an GBP 800 million contract with UAV Tactical Systems (U-TacS), is the product of a joint venture between Elbit Systems UK and Thales UK.
Based on the Israeli Elbit Hermes 450 platform, the Watchkeeper WK450 boasts a dual-mode synthetic aperture radar and ground moving target indication system, which, alongside its electro-optical/infrared sensor, equips it with exceptional all-weather capabilities. This allows it to perform a wide range of missions, from detailed intelligence gathering to precise target acquisition.
The Watchkeeper system has a storied operational history, having been deployed in Afghanistan and against Daesh in the Middle East. It has also supported domestic operations, including monitoring migrant boats over the English Channel in 2020, where it operated from Lydd Airport in support of the UK Border Force.
The current deployment in Estonia aligns with the British Army’s Watchkeeper mid-life extension (MLE) program, which aims to introduce enhancements to the aircraft. These upgrades are part of a broader strategy to maintain the system’s relevance and effectiveness in modern warfare, with initial operating capability for the upgraded system expected by 2026 and full operating capability scheduled for 2027.
