New British RG Mk1 Protector Drone Hits Moving Targets & Carries 21 Weapons

by Maya Carlin, Warrior Contributor, Weapons

The United Kingdom’s RG Mk1 “Protector” drone is expected to enter service with the Royal Air Force by 2024. Britain announced an $83 million deal with General Atomics Aeronautical Systems in 2021. The deal will bring the first three Protector drones to the RAF fleet.

The world’s first certified medium-altitude, long-endurance unmanned aerial vehicle will support the RAF’s operations in the Middle East and Afghanistan. The drone’s advanced capabilities will aid Britain’s surveillance and strike missions. The Protector will significantly improve the RAF’s intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition, and reconnaissance capabilities, or ISTAR.

Extensive Testing

Britain’s armed forces have been flying U.S.-designed Reaper drones since 2004. These medium-range, long-endurance UAVs are also manufactured by General Atomics. The Protector program lessens Britain’s dependence on U.S.-made military equipment, and it brings Britain to the forefront of advanced UAV technology.

Beyond improving the RAF’s ISTAR capabilities, the Protector is also expected to support civilian missions such as search-and-rescue and disaster-response efforts. The advanced drone is capable of flying up to 40 hours continuously.

The drone has undergone extensive testing. According to the Director of the RAF’s ISTAR program, “GA-ASI has provided support, not only in the testing of the aircraft, but in developing this game-changing [UAV] platform. GA-ASI provided a company MQ-9B over this past summer and operated it from RAF bases in the U.K. to help us get acquainted with its operational capabilities ahead of the first delivery of Protector.”