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Watchkeeper

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zero_gravity
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Joined: Thu Oct 08, 2009 1:37 pm

Watchkeeper

Post by zero_gravity » Tue Feb 21, 2012 12:41 pm

A few weeks ago we caught an interesting hex on the PP network 39C343/DOC343
A search of the days activity indicated that by chance , it had been mlatted a couple of times and checking the location
placed it within the Aberporth range . The SSR in use was 4542 , a range code.

The days log showed the a/c active from sea level to 10,000 feet but suggested it had loitered at the upper level for some time.
At one point there was also a Valley Hawk close by.

All this coincided with NOTAM info which confirmed UAV / jamming trials.
This turned out to be the first logging of a Watchkeeper UAV , using a bogus hex.

Its thought that the UAV was sending Mode-S as part of the jamming trials

Image

RichC

Re: Watchkeeper

Post by RichC » Tue Feb 21, 2012 4:14 pm

I would get excited but this programme was selected in 2004 and its now 2012 and they are still darn testing it. But using the Hermes 450 in Afghanistan of which is basically a Watchkeeper.
If it was a Reaper or Predator then fine but.......... get the act together, 8 years to develop/test a UAV which is already flying in another guise operationally is a pee take... well hang on, its normal for an MoD programme, i forgot about that.

johnhowe

Re: Watchkeeper

Post by johnhowe » Thu Mar 01, 2018 7:32 pm

viewtopic.php?f=100&p=975455#p975455

Also operated out of Spadeadam.

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