Watchkeeper UAV Takes Maiden Flight

The British Watchkeeper unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) made its first flight on last week from the Parc Aberporth center in Wales managed by QinetiQ, reports Thales UK, builder of the system.

The flight is a major step in a long-term program to demonstrate the Watchkeeper's safety and airworthiness criteria needed to fly on ranges and segregated British airspace, said company officials.

The Watchkeeper is a high-performance, multi-sensor, all-weather UAV able to fly for 16...