Thales' Watchkeeper unmanned air vehicle (UAV) has flow its first autonomous flight, under the system guidance of ground control software.
"This is another significant step forward in the programme, and follows from the first flight trials of the Watchkeeper air vehicle in April 2008, and the demonstration of automatic take-off and landing in August," said Thales. "Trials of the UAV will continue into 2009, and will validate the key mission system capa¬bility of the system."
Control software has been produced by Thales at its Sussex facility.
