Watchkeeper WK450

The **Watchkeeper WK450** is an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) manufactured by Thales UK in collaboration with Elbit Systems (with Elbit taking full ownership in January 2026), based on the Elbit Hermes 450, and primarily used by the British Army for intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition, and reconnaissance (ISTAR) missions. It features a 10.5m wingspan, 6m length, 150kg payload capacity including electro-optical/infrared sensors, laser designator, and I-Master synthetic aperture radar/ground moving target indicator (SAR/GMTI) for all-weather operations, with up to 14-17 hours endurance, 16,000ft altitude, and 150-200km operational range. Key capabilities include automatic takeoff/landing, UK-specific data links, and support for artillery targeting without armament.