The Royal Air Force has welcomed its newest drone into service — years after they were originally intended to. Protector, which can fly for up to 40 hours non-stop, will replace the RAF’s Reaper fleet with a transition planned later this year.
The head of the Air Force hailed the development as a “significant and historic milestone”. Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir Rich Knighton, said: “Getting to this stage has been a whole force effort, working closely with our industry partners. I would like to thank all those who have been involved in the programme, and I know they will continue to work tirelessly towards achieving full operating capability.”
Protector is the first remotely piloted air system authorised to fly in UK air space and recently completed a flight from RAF Waddington, Lincolnshire, to RAF Marham, Norfolk.
Described as a capability “step change”, it can be flown anywhere in the world by personnel located at RAF Waddington.
It can fly at heights of 40,000 feet and specialises in intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance missions, known as ISTAR.
Armed with powerful 500lb Paveway IV laser-guided bombs and Brimstone 3 missiles, it can also carry out strike operations.
The drones were previously expected to enter service in 2018 and achieve initial operating capability (IOC) in 2021, but the programme was delayed due to budgetary pressures.
It was then expected to achieve IOC in 2023 before being pushed back again to 2025.
Official figures released in 2023 showed the cost of the project had increased by more than £500 million to nearly £1.35 billion.
The first Protector was delivered to the RAF in 2023. So far, four are in the UK, with a further six currently undergoing test and evaluation in the US.
A total of 16 Protectors are expected to be delivered by manufacturers General Atomics.
The RAF said all anticipated deliveries will be completed this year.
Further testing will be completed over the summer ahead of the planned transition from Reaper to Protector.
Reaper, which has been used extensively on operations against the so-called Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, was initially scheduled to be retired in 2015 but has had its service life extended.