Elbit Systems Group to Receive a Contract Valued at Approximately GBP300 Million for the UK WATCHKEEPER Programme, Through its J
August 04 2005 - 11:30AM
PR Newswire (US)
HAIFA, Israel, August 4 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Elbit Systems
Ltd. (NASDAQ:ESLT) reported today that the UK Ministry of Defence
(MoD) and Thales UK have signed a contract worth GBP700 million for
the Development, Manufacture and Initial Support phases of the
WATCHKEEPER programme. Elbit Systems and Thales UK are establishing
a joint venture aimed at executing a significant part of the
WATCHKEEPER programme and addressing the rapidly growing UAV market
worldwide. The Elbit Systems Group expects to receive a significant
part of the contract, valued at around GBP300 million, the majority
being executed by the Leicester-based joint venture. The joint
venture's contract is expected to be signed this year. WATCHKEEPER
will provide the UK armed forces with an essential Intelligence,
Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance (ISTAR)
capability based on the unmanned air vehicle (UAV) system Hermes
450 and will be a key component of the UK's Network Enabled
Capability (NEC). This programme will deliver equipment, training
and facilities, with the capability coming into service from 2010.
WATCHKEEPER will provide the UK Armed Forces with all weather day
and night surveillance in times of war, tension or during
peace-keeping operations without the need to deploy troops into
sensitive areas or harmful situations. The WATCHKEEPER system can
provide continuous 24/7 surveillance when needed, using unmanned
air vehicles able to stay airborne for more than 16 hours each. The
WATCHKEEPER system consists of the WK450 unmanned air vehicle
carrying day/night sensors and laser target designator connected by
a data link to a network of containerised Ground Control Stations
where army operators will control the whole mission and interface
within a network enabled environment. High resolution optical and
radar imagery will be exploited and disseminated to provide
valuable intelligence for operational commanders. The system is
capable of rapid deployment and operations anywhere in the world.
WATCHKEEPER will support the information requirements of all three
services and will be operated by the Royal Artillery. The President
and CEO of Elbit Systems, Joseph Ackerman said: "We are proud to
take part in such a significant programme, led by Thales, which is
one of the most prestigious UAV programmes in the world. Thales'
teaming with Elbit Systems testifies to our advanced technological
systems capabilities and substantiates our positioning as one of
the leaders in the UAV market". Mr. Ackerman expressed his hope
that the joint venture established by Elbit Systems and Thales to
execute the WATCHKEEPER programme will pave the way to obtaining
more UAV programmes in further markets in Europe and around the
world. About Elbit Systems Elbit Systems Ltd. is an international
defense electronics company engaged in a wide range of
defense-related programs throughout the world, in the areas of
aerospace, land and naval systems, command, control,
communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance and
reconnaissance ("C4ISR"), advanced electro-optic and space
technologies. The company focuses on the upgrading of existing
military platforms and developing new technologies for defense and
homeland security applications. About Thales UK Thales UK's
activities encompass defence, aerospace, security and services. The
company is the UK's second largest defence systems contractor and
has been a supplier to the MoD since the First World War. Thales
employs 10,000 staff in the UK and 60,000 people in 50 countries.
In 2004, Thales UK's revenues were GBP1.1bn Contacts Company
contact IR Contacts Ilan Pacholder, Corporate Ehud Helft/Kenny
Green Secretary and VP Finance & GK International Capital
Markets Tel: +1-866-704-6710 Elbit Systems Ltd. Fax:
+972-3-607-4711 Tel: +972-4-831-6632 Fax: +972-4-831- 6659
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THE COMPANY'S PERIODIC FILINGS WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION. DATASOURCE: Elbit Systems Ltd. CONTACT: Contacts:
Company contact: Ilan Pacholder, Corporate Secretary and VP Finance
& Capital Markets, Elbit Systems Ltd., Tel: +972-4-831-6632,
Fax: +972-4-831-6659, ; IR Contacts: Ehud Helft/Kenny Green, GK
International, Tel: 1-866-704-6710, Fax: 972-3-607-4711, ,
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