UK awards Protector training contract

An MQ-9B seen at a recent capability demonstration held out of RAF Waddington, home of the future Protector force. (Janes/Gareth Jennings)

The United Kingdom (UK) has awarded General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc (GA-ASI) a contract to undertake operator training for the MQ-9B Protector RG1 medium-altitude long-endurance unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV).

Announced by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) on 4 October, the Protector Training Conduct (PTC) award will cover instruction for the first 33 mission crews during a period of 19 months running until March 2024. The contract is valued at GBP25.9 million (USD29.4 million).

News of the award follows on the back of recent milestones for the Protector programme for the Royal Air Force (RAF) in September. These included the official handover of the first air vehicle to the MoD ahead of delivery to the UK, as well as the launch of public consultations for an airspace change to enable the UAV to be flown at its main operating base of RAF Waddington.

The RAF is set to receive 16 Protectors, to be operated by the No. 13 and No. 31 squadrons. Deliveries to the UK are set to commence in 2023, with full operating capability scheduled for 2026.