Watchkeeper receives MAA approval
The WK450 Watchkeeper UAV design has finally received certification from the UK’s Military Aviation Authority (MAA), Thales UK has announced.
According to Thales, which manufactures the WK450 alongside Elbit Systems, the Statement of Type Design Assurance (STDA) confirms that the Watchkeeper air vehicle and software ‘has reached an acceptable level for design safety and integrity to meet the current stage of the system’s development’.
The news is set to ignite fresh speculation as to whether the UK MoD will decide to deploy the ISTAR asset to Afghanistan as UK armed forces look to wrap up their involvement by the end
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