The first of 16 Protector drones, the Royal Air Force’s (RAF) latest remotely piloted aerial system (RPAS), arrived at RAF Waddington, Lincolnshire.
Remotely piloted from RAF Waddington, it can operate at altitudes of up to 40,000 feet and has a endurance of more than 30 hours, performing a wide range of surveillance and reconnaissance missions.
The aircraft arrived last month, was assembled and is being prepared for ground and airborne testing ahead of its planned entry into service in 2024.
The first phase of the Protector’s testing at RAF Waddington will involve ground testing of satellite links and taxiing procedures, as well as take-off and landing procedures, which will include a circuit over RAF Waddington. The arrival of a further 15 aircraft in the UK will be phased.
In addition to taking over the operational roles currently performed by the Reaper drones, which served in round-the-clock operations for more than 15 years, the MQ-9B Protectors will be certified to stringent NATO safety and certification standards, allowing them to operate in UK and European civil airspace.
See also: GA-ASI’s MQ-9B Mojave drone took off and landed in 300 ft
RG Mk1 Protector
Protector RG Mk 1 (the designation assumed by the MQ-9B SkyGuardian in RAF service) is the successor to Reaper (MQ-9A) and is the next generation of remotely piloted medium altitude, long-range aircraft (MALE). The UK Royal Air Force will be the first force to operate this aircraft.
The Protector will be deployed in a wide range of armed intelligence, surveillance, targeting and reconnaissance (ISTAR) operations, where its ability to fly continuously for up to 40 hours will provide the RAF with a greatly enhanced armed ISTAR capability.
The aircraft payload comprises of a complex suite of sensors, including a High-Definition Electro-Optical, Infra-Red (IR) camera, which, combined with endurance, provides a sensational persistent reconnaissance capability across the electro-magnetic spectrum
The aircraft will use enhanced data links and has nine fixed points (8 on the wing, 1 on the centerline) with a maximum external payload capacity of 2155 kg (4750 lb). This allows for easy integration of mission-specific, on-demand payloads and mission systems. For example, RAF RG Mk 1s can be armed with the Brimstone missile and Paveway IV laser-guided bomb.
