Real Life Support Provision for Watchkeeper Operational Field Trials

Description

Background. Watchkeeper (WK), the Army's Tactical Unmanned Air System, will undertake Operational Field Trials (OFT) from 18 Sep - 5 Nov 17. A Military Permit for Trials Flying (MPTF) has been issued for these trials, which will run under the Accountable Manager (Military Flying) for the Thales Flight Operations Organisation (FOO). The Thales FOO operate from West Wales Airport, in Aberporth, using the adjacent range danger areas in Cardigan Bay for all WK trials activity. The MPTF ties Thales FOO to West Wales Airport for the OFT. Army support is required to both facilitate and add realism to the OFT. A full WK sub-unit will deploy to West Wales Airport over the 7 week trial period. A tented camp will be built to accommodate the 80-120 personnel participating in the trial; this camp must be properly established with cooking facilities ablutions and enabling utilities and facilities (water, power, infrastructure).