France Begins Watchkeeper Training

French ground forces expected to start training this month on the UAV based on Elbit’s Hermes 450. After further system tests, France is expected to acquire the UAV and hold an initial flight in 2013

ccording to the website Aviationweek, the French military’s ground forces are expected to begin undergoing training on the British tactical UAV, Watchkeeper, which is based on the Hermes 450 UAV by Elbit Systems. The first flight of the UAV is scheduled for 2013, when France is also expected to acquire the UAV.

The Watchkeeper is a joint project between Elbit Systems and Thales. In the framework of the project, the Israeli UAV was adapted to the needs of the British Army, which has been using it since 2005.

France has hinted in the past that it will examine the possibility of stationing the UAV onboard ships as well, towards the objective of increasing its naval intelligence collection capabilities. The Hermes 450 UAV is widely used by the Israeli Air Force and the IDF’s Ground Forces.

It should be noted that Jean-Yves Le Drian, France’s new Minister of Defense, halted to decision to acquire the Heron TP UAV from Israel Aerospace Industries in the recent summer.