UAV Tactical Systems

In 2008 "Elbit Systems Ltd. reported that its joint venture company with Thales UK, UAV Tactical Systems Limited (U-TacS) was awarded by Thales UK a £317million order (more than $500 million), to be performed over an eight-year period. U-TacS' financial statements will be consolidated within Elbit Systems' financial reports. This order is part of the WATCHKEEPER program for which the UK Ministry of Defence and Thales UK signed a £700 million contract in August."

"The majority of the system will be produced in the UK. Airframes will be produced at Leicester (airframes), the ground segment relies entirely on British technology. Hardware will be produced in Cambridge (shelters). other companies involved include Vega, Praxis and Cobham. Flight testing will be performed at Cardigan Bay. LogicaCMG will be providing the digital battlespace integration and QinetiQ will contribute its image processing capability. Boeing is also involved, to ensure integration with US systems. Thales' has also established a system integration site at its Crawley site, where a synthetic Watchkeeper environment will support the modeling and integration of the system's elements, to reduce development risks and complete the program within the ambitious schedule set by the MOD."