Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many and what proportion of the Watchkeeper fleet are operational as of 24 November 2021.

As at 1 April 2021, the Ministry of Defence had 46 Watchkeeper Aircraft in active fleet management, of which 11 were in service. The remainder are held in the sustainment fleet in storage or being used in test and evaluation.

I am withholding the number that are operational, as its disclosure would, or would be likely to, prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the Armed Forces.