Watchkeeper, the newest unmanned aircraft to join the ranks of the British Army, performed its first flight in the U.K. on April 14, 2010, at Parc Aberporth in West Wales. The Parc Aberporth facilities, managed by QinetiQ through the West Wales Unmanned Air vehicle (UAV) Centre, are the premier test facilities for UAVs in the UK.

Performing the first success flight is the first milestone in the UAV induction of the Watchkeeper system with Army units, demonstrating that the vehicle and its system meet the robust safety and airworthiness criteria required to fly UAVs initially on ranges and segregated airspace in the UK. Thales UK, the system integrator and prime contractor is scheduled to deliver the first Watchkeeper systems to the MOD this year.