UK MoD unveils first steps for British Army Watchkeeper replacement
Project Corvus will look for a replacement for the Watchkeeper Mk1 uncrewed aerial system (UAS) that was retired from service in the British Army in March 2025.
SLAM-ER missile being loaded on a USN P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft. (Credit: USN/Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Jason Kofonow)
Boeing has obtained a new $9.2 million FMS contract modification via Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) to provide data link pod assemblies for 36 AGM-84H Stand-Off Land Attack Missile Expanded Response (SLAM-ER) missiles for Saudi Arabia, the DoD revealed on 4 August.
Work will be completed by December 2026 at two US locations.
Boeing received the original $1.97 billion FMS contract from NAVAIR in May 2020, covering the supply of 650 SLAM-ER missiles to Saudi Arabia by December 2028. The deal also included the modernisation of SLAM-ER long-range precision-strike missiles for the kingdom.
In June 2021, the company received a contract modification to provide support materiel for Saudi SLAM-ER data link pods and containers.
SLAM-ER has a range of 280 km, is fitted with an imaging IR seeker and automatic target recognition for terminal guidance.
The missile has a 500lb (225kg) warhead with data link and GPS guidance.
Project Corvus will look for a replacement for the Watchkeeper Mk1 uncrewed aerial system (UAS) that was retired from service in the British Army in March 2025.
The Swedish Government has asked parliament to authorise two possible export sales as part of its 2025 Spring amending budget bill.
Contracts for the procurement of two platforms have been signed, and will be tested by the German armed forces.
The company has been negotiating the supply of TCTS II to US allies and partners.
The second and third Airbus A330 MRTT for the Spanish Air Force have been undergoing conversion in Getafe, Madrid.
The two countries have already signed defence industrial partnerships in recent years, most recently between Republikorp and Turkish firm Baykar in February 2025.