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France begins evaluation of Watchkeeper

Issue No. 22 | November 16-30, 2012

The DGA and its British counterpart, DE&S, kicked off France’s evaluation of the Watchkeeper tactical UAV. France and the United Kingdom continue to cooperate on tactical UAVs, as provided by the Lancaster House Treaty, and confirmed on July 12 by the two countries’ Defence Ministers.

The assessment of the British Watchkeeper by the French Army will allow forces to define the conditions of close operational cooperation. The evaluation will begin this month with initial training of French operators. The flight campaigns will be conducted at Istres airbase in 2013.

The contract awarded by the DE&S on October 22 to Thales UK covers training of French operators and support for the in-flight evaluations, which includes transport, logistics and maintenance.

The Watchkeeper is tactical UAV intended for ground forces that the British Ministry of Defence acquired in 2005.