How could the Ministry of Defence's Protector drone acquisition affect the Royal Air Force?
The Royal Air Force may gain new capabilities with Protector drone replacement The Protector drone, procured by the Ministry of Defence, is intended to replace the General Atomics Reaper drones currently used by the Royal Air Force. This transition will provide the RAF with increased operational capabilities, including greater range and endurance. Furthermore, the Protector is expected to hit harder, being armed with Brimstone and Paveway IV precision weapons, and is in line to be approved to fly in non-segregated airspace in places like the U.K. The first drone is scheduled for delivery to the MoD in the summer of 2021, with the platform entering service by mid-2024.
- Effect
- Strong positive
- How direct
- Stated in the reporting
- When
- Within months
- The story
- No new developments lately
How it reaches Royal Air Force
-
The Ministry of Defence announced that the first production version of the General Atomics Protector RG Mk1 drone made its maiden flight on September 25, 2020. This followed an announcement that the Ministry of Defence had signed a deal with General Atomics Aeronautical Systems for the first three drones and associated support equipment, valued at £65 million (U.S. $83 million). The contract also includes options for 13 additional air vehicles and supporting equipment, valued at approximately £180 million.
The full event1independent outlet -
The Protector vehicles are designed to replace General Atomics Reaper drones, which are currently widely used by the Royal Air Force in operations across the Middle East and Afghanistan. The Protector is the British version of the MQ-9B Sky Guardian. With increased range, endurance, and weapons capacity, the Protector will play a vital intelligence and deterrent role for the Royal Air Force. The platform is scheduled to enter service by mid-2024, following its delivery to the MoD in the summer of 2021.
1 report connects these two. Brind only summarizes; follow a link to read the reporting itself.
-
aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces
Everything about Royal Air Force
Tap any step to see the evidence behind it.
The facts so far
As reported. Each one links to where it comes from.
- The initial deal was for £65 million (U.S. $83 million) for the first three drones, with options for 13 more.defensenews.com
- The Protector will replace General Atomics Reaper drones widely used by the Royal Air Force.defensenews.com
- The Protector is scheduled to enter service by mid-2024.defensenews.com
- The Protector will be armed with Brimstone and Paveway IV precision weapons.defensenews.com
Why it matters
For the Royal Air Force, this acquisition represents a significant step in fleet modernization and operational capability. The shift from the Reaper to the Protector allows the RAF to maintain a vital intelligence and deterrent role while benefiting from advanced features like increased range and the ability to fly in non-segregated airspace in the U.K.
This procurement is part of a broader effort to update defense assets, especially following a two-year delay imposed on the Protector program in 2017, which led to a 40 percent hike in program costs due to wider defense budget problems.
What we don't know yet
- What specific operational changes will the Protector bring to the RAF's current mission profile?
- How will the integration of the Protector affect the RAF's maintenance and support infrastructure?
What would change this answer
— Other considerations
Beyond this explainer
Explore connected ideas
Each opens in Related concepts: what the web connects to it, with Brind's news on it.
The ideas come from how millions of web pages place them near each other. The questions are Brind's AI reasoning, written only from this explainer and Brind's own reporting.
Who else could feel it
Other possible ripples from the same event.
Reporting
Keep going
Brind's analysis is written by AI from the reporting linked above and can be wrong. This explainer is a possibility worth considering, not a forecast: steps marked as Brind's reasoning are not stated in the reporting. It is not investment advice; do your own research.