As part of the Project Convergence 22 exercise, which takes place in the USA in conjunction with the US, British and Australian armies, the 1st battalion, YORKS_REGTֿ, operates the Watchkeeper UAV (Hermes 450). The UAV flew from the National Training Center in Fort Irwin, California. publication of ameliairheart.
An official publication by the British Ministry of Defense, regarding the Project Convergence 22 exercise, reveals that the UK is sending 450 soldiers, about 17 advanced systems and technologies, including some that were used for the first time “on the ground”.
One of the exercises is launching rockets from the MLRS rocket system, by targeting sensors of the F-35 Lightning II fighter jet. Other methods of increasing lethality being tested in California include combining one of the British air defense assets, the Giraffe G-AMB radar, with the network used by the Americans, in order to better coordinate defenses.
It’s not just equipment; From a human perspective, the UK’s newly formed Ranger Battalion will operate alongside US special operations forces to exchange tactics, while the UK’s Robotics and Autonomous Systems (RAS) squadron will provide reconnaissance and logistical support.
The RAS capability will be provided by the second battalion, the Yorkshire Regiment, which recently completed a line in Cyprus. There they tested systems to determine their effectiveness for future use by the British infantry. The Watchkeeper WK450 will provide the eyes in the sky while a variety of other technologies will support situational awareness and intelligence processing within 20 headquarters.