Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, for what reason was the out of service date of Watchkeeper was extended beyond March 2025.

The Army’s Watchkeeper Mk 1 Uncrewed Aerial System was due to be retired from service from March 2025 but will now remain in service until March 2027 to allow for the delivery of its replacement capability, Project CORVUS.

The cost of keeping the Watchkeeper programme in service for the additional two-year period is currently anticipated to be £ 95,659,000.