The British Army is to transfer day-to-day command of the UK's Thales WK450 Watchkeeper unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to the Joint Helicopter Command (JHC) in a bid to smooth its entry into service. Army sources told IHS Jane's that the switch would take place at the end of August with the aim of concentrating all the service's large air assets under a single umbrella organisation. The British Army's Force Troops Command currently controls the units of Royal Artillery equipped with the Watchkeeper. The system will continue to be operated by 32 and 47 Regiments of the Royal Artillery, both based at Larkhill. By moving the Watchkeeper to JHC it is hoped that the crews who operate it will benefit from exposure to "best practise" and "improved air mindedness", said an army source familiar with the plans.
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