By Arie Egozi, Autonomy Global — Ambassador for Israel
The AI-enhanced capabilities of the Elbit Systems Watchkeeper XR unmanned aerial system (UAS) have directly influenced demand for the platform across Europe, according to Israeli defense sources.
The Watchkeeper XR integrates AI primarily through its Spectro XR electro-optical (EO) payload, which employs AI algorithms to automatically detect, classify and track long-range targets in real time. It can do so in degraded conditions such as fog, smoke and dust.
Israeli sources describe the payload as delivering “very high performance rates” and attribute them to this AI feature. Elbit Systems has refined these capabilities based on operational lessons learned from the Israeli Air Force’s combat use of the Hermes 450 in recent conflicts.
On April 27, Elbit Systems also inaugurated a new UAS production facility in Romania. This marks a significant milestone in the company’s European expansion. The new site is Elbit’s seventh production facility in Romania. It establishes an integrated capability for the production, integration, testing and maintenance of advanced UAS platforms. The facility was developed within the framework of the Watchkeeper XR program and reflects the company’s long-term commitment to local industrial cooperation and the strengthening of European defense capabilities.
The Watchkeeper XR is a high-performance tactical UAS designed for intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance (ISTAR) missions. It serves as the export variant of the UK’s Watchkeeper WK450, built on Elbit’s Hermes 450 platform and features an open architecture designed to accommodate advanced payloads.