Watchkeeper
Watchkeeper The Capability Watchkeeper will provide the operational commander with a 24-hour, all weather, intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance capability supplying accurate, timely and high quality imagery to support decision making. The system will consist of unmanned air vehicles, sensors, data links and ground control stations. Watchkeeper is planned to be delivered through an incremental programme to allow the system to benefit from both existing and developing sensors and air vehicle technology. |
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Overview of Cost, Time and Performance | ||||||
| Approved | Forecast/Actual | Variation | IY Variation | ||
Cost of Assessment Phase | £52m | £65m | +£13m | - | ||
Cost of Demonstration & Manufacture Phase | £847m | £839m | -£8m | -£4m | ||
Cost of Support Phase | £55m | £53m | -£2m | +£3m | ||
Duration of Assessment Phase |
| 68 months |
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In-Service Date | June 2010 | February 2012 | +20 months | +12 months | ||
Support Contract Go-Live | January 2010 | January 2010 | 0 months | 0 months | ||
Support Contract End | May 2013 | September 2014 | +16 months | +16 months | ||
In-year Cost and Time Variation Detail | ||||||
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The first UK flight took place on 14 April 2010, signalling the start of the UK flight trials programme. Flight trials also continued in parallel in Israel during 2010 to reduce risk by providing additional system and software testing. 2010 started on a positive note with the Watchkeeper Initial Contractor Logistic Support contract signed in January and also saw the Watchkeeper Training solution continue to develop. In June 2010, a contract was awarded to QinetiQ, through the exploitation of the Long Term Partnering Agreement, to deliver Steady State UK training facilities, infrastructure and airspace at Boscombe Down for Watchkeeper. This contract minimises capital investment costs, maximises airfield operational flexibility as the runway at Boscombe Down already exists and is the correct length and width and is situated in the Restricted Airspace. The Facility was handed over to MOD in December 2010. | However, the challenging development programme was by now also experiencing severe technical integration issues. Thales declared that it was unable to meet the main equipment delivery Anchor Milestone of June 2010 (50 per cent date), and forecast a revised delivery schedule reflected in the current delivery dates. Contract negotiations to account for the technical issues and optimise delivery of the system for deployment to Afghanistan have now concluded. The MOD has reached a settlement to remedy the situation and mitigate risk to operations at no further cost. An Information Note informed the Investment Approvals Board of the situation in October 2010. A Review Note was subsequently submitted to the Investment Approvals Board in March 2011 to endorse the accepted position and to approve the revised project schedule, which "reset" the In-Service Date. | |||||
Risk Assessment against Defence Lines of Development
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Equipment
Infrastructure