TWO unmanned military drones crashed in the Irish Sea after taking off from Aberporth Airport earlier this year, the Ministry of Defence has revealed.

The loss of the multi-million pound Watchkeeper drones, operated by the Army, led to the entire fleet being temporarily grounded though trials have now resumed.

The MoD ordered 54 Watchkeepers in 2005 as part of an £847m deal, with the aircraft due to be in service by 2010. A recent report from the UK infrastructure and projects authority said the project had already cost £1.1bn.

The MoD said despite the crashes, it hoped to bring the aircraft into full service by the end of the year.

An MOD spokesman said: “We paused Watchkeeper flying for a short period whilst conducting initial investigations, but resumed flight trials in early July. Service inquiries into the specific incidents are ongoing as we look to learn all we can from the events.”