Accident at Akrotiri brings the problems of the UAV Watchkeeper program to light – Photos & VIDEO

Defence Redefined

Published on 30/12/2020 at 11:49

According to an article in the Observer newspaper, a British unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) crashed during an exercise conducted in Cyprus last October.

This is a Thales Watchkeeper WK450 UAV purchased by the British Army for the war in Afghanistan. It is equipped with surveillance and reconnaissance cameras and is used by the British border force to patrol the flows of immigrants under Operation Devran.

A British Army spokesman at the Akrotiri base commented: “We confirm that on 14 October 2020, during a training flight, there was an incident involving a UAV Watchkeeper in Akrotiri, Cyprus, resulting in some damage to the aircraft.”

“A full investigation is underway and therefore it would be inappropriate to comment further at this time.”

None of the base personnel were injured as a result of the incident and the army, which is responsible for the UAV, said it would fully comply with any investigation into the incident.

According to the non-governmental organization Drone Wars UK, the GBP 1 billion Watchkeeper program is facing serious operational problems.

The Drone Wars UK report states that, between 2014 and 2018, there were at least five recorded accidents and there are serious allegations that the drone could not fly in bad weather.

Last October, it made only six sorties in support of the Border Force, a total of 23 hours and 54 minutes in the air.

The report also argues that the much-publicized venture to use the Watchkeeper UAV to monitor refugee flows has little practical value, but serves to help familiarize the public with the use of drones at a domestic level. 

Despite strong media and British government coverage of Operation Devran, the Drone Wars UK study reveals that the drone had little impact and played little role in supporting the British border force. UAVs flew on average only once every other day in their first month of operation, with their total flight time being reduced to less than twenty-four hours in the second month. Due to security concerns, they are only allowed to fly in certain areas covered by temporary airspace restrictions and could only fly in suitable weather conditions.

Also read: National Guard | Cypriot Special Forces in joint drills with British Royal Marines – Photos