The Imperial Maritime Patrol Aircraft 15 Watcher is a Naval patrol aircraft designed purely to detect submarines and scout.

It carries 10 D-26 Sonar Buoys (Or Sub sticks as the naval aviators call it) that can be dropped from any height thanks to the addition of a parachute that activates as the Buoys are released. While it is also capable of carrying other armaments, due to the Watchers sharing hanger space with the IF-51s, which can serve any purpose needed, the Watcher has been reduced to scouting and detecting subs, as was its original purpose.

During the Missile conflict of 2271, which involved the Empire versing the entire world for breaking the MWS Treaty, the Watcher was hastily put together by order of the Emperor to serve the Imperial navy, as Tsar Subs are greatly feared, and the Holy Valeran Grand Fleet is said to be equalled only by the Imperial Amethyst Fleet and the Kawaseki's 3rd Fleet. This puts the Empire in a serious disadvantage, naval wise. While the Watcher was rushed, in that it has below average flight performance by modern standards, it is still capable of S/VTOL and folding wings, which delighted the Navy as they could fit in much more Watchers than they could Wyrms, despite the Watcher being wider.

Unlike earlier models, which can only connect to the aircraft it was dropped from, the D-26 Sonar Buoys can directly connect to the nearest friendly Vessel. If there are no vessels nearby, then it connects to the Watcher that acts as a relay for the fleet. In other words, instead of manually reporting what the Sonars detect, they just get sent automatically.

A few years prior to the Missile conflict, and 18 years after the end of the Great Rebellion, The Emperor discreetly ordered the research and development of new and better missiles. The standard Interceptor and Guardian missiles are simply not cutting it anymore for their advanced fighters, however, creating a new missile would spark yet another armed conflict. The reason for that is because of the Modernised Weapons and Systems Treaty, or simply "The MWS treaty." The treaty states that only the Draco Mandate can manufacture weapons and systems like Missiles, instruments, engines and countermeasures. If a country wants to develop a new weapon or system, then they must forfeit the blueprints to the Draco Mandate, and they would then sell it to all the countries. There has been a few exceptions to this rule, such as the Empire and the Knights Black Eagle, but the Mandate owed them both a favour and had to let it slide. However, exclusively owning a new kind of engine is sure to cause envy overseas. And because of the certain envy of a country, was the secret plan to design new missiles discovered and brought to the attention of the Mandate. Right then and there, did he declare that the Direznus Empire is excommunicated and is to be considered free game for any country to invade unannounced.
The Emperor has foreseen this however, and pushed for more detection systems to be designed so that they can detect whether they are about to be invaded or not.
Due to the excommunication, the Knights Black Eagle had a choice to join in the upcoming conflict on one of the sides that are about to form, or remain neutral. The debate raged for hours till the Grandmaster, St.Sabre spoke up and said "This is a matter of business, not faith. We will not take part."
As the sun started melting off the snow, a year after the Empire's excommunication, the Missile conflict began when the Holy Valeran Grand Fleet began its journey across the Penaristim Ocean, towards the Direznus Empire.

(1,2,3,4 and 5 drops a pair of Sonar Buoys. And also drops the parachute if you push it again.
6 activates wing folding on VTOl, so be sure to deactivate 8 first.
7 is the arresting hook, if you decide you want to land the Watcher conventionally.
8 controls the nozzles and activates the Gyroscope. Deactivate it if you want to fly conventionally.
Trim is trim. Down is up, up is down.
No, the sonar buoys don't actually work, but its the thought that counts. Plus, the reason why they're a completely different colour to the rest of the plane is so it could be spotted slightly easier. After all, life jackets and lifeboats are orange or yellow, right? Same idea here.)