UK deploys reconnaissance drone over Estonian skies to reinforce NATO's eastern borders

The British Army has begun training flights with its Watchkeeper WK450 tactical unmanned aerial vehicle over the skies of Pärnu and Western Estonia.

Here's What We Know

The exercises, which began on 15 August and will run until the end of the month, are part of efforts to enhance intelligence, surveillance, targeting and reconnaissance (ISTAR) capabilities on NATO's eastern flank.

Watchkeeper, operated by 47 Regiment Royal Artillery, plays a crucial role in modern military operations. This advanced system is normally based at Larkhall on Salisbury Plain in the UK. However, the drone has been deployed to Estonia as part of a wider initiative to strengthen regional security.

Based on the Israeli Elbit Hermes 450 platform, the Watchkeeper WK450 boasts a dual-mode synthetic aperture radar and a moving target display system, which, together with an electro-optical/infrared sensor, provides it with exceptional all-weather capabilities. This enables it to perform a wide range of missions, from detailed intelligence gathering to precision target acquisition.

The Watchkeeper system has a proud operational history, having been deployed in Afghanistan and against ISIS in the Middle East. It has also supported domestic operations, including the monitoring of migrant boats over the English Channel in 2020.

Source: Defence Industry Europe