Romania Buys Watchkeeper X Tactical UAS from Israel

Romania’s defense ministry awarded Elbit Systems $180 million for three Watchkeeper X tactical UAS.

“Elbit Systems announced today, further to its announcement of December 21, 2022, that it received a first purchase order worth approximately $180 million to supply the first three out of a maximum seven Watchkeeper X tactical Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) as part of a framework contract with the Romanian Ministry of National Defense with a maximum value of approximately $410 million (1.89 billion Lei),” the company said in an official release.

The purchase order will be performed over a period of two years.

Under the purchase order, Elbit Systems will provide upgraded Watchkeeper X tactical UAS with advanced capabilities including the Spectro XR multi-spectral electro-optical payload, new communication capabilities and others.

The Watchkeeper X tactical, Dual Payload UAS is the UK export variant of the British Army manufactured by U-TacS, Elbit Systems’ UK subsidiary in cooperation with Thales, and is a derivative of the Hermes UAS family.