Protector receives Military Type Certification ahead of entry into UK service
The RAF is to field 16 Protector RG1 unmanned aircraft, with the type due to enter service in late 2025. (Crown Copyright)
The United Kingdom has granted Military Type Certification (MTC) to the General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc (GA-ASI) MQ-9B Protector RG1 ahead of the formal entry into service of the medium-altitude long-endurance (MALE) unmanned aircraft system (UAS) later in 2025.
Announced by the manufacturer on 8 May, the awarding of the MTC means that the UK version of the SkyGuardian/SeaGuardian UAS is now permitted to operate without geographic restrictions, including over populous areas.
“This 29 April decision was a first-of-its-kind milestone for a large, unmanned aircraft system. … GA-ASI is the first manufacturer of large, unmanned aircraft to receive an MTC based on rigorous compliance with STANAG [Standardization Agreement] 4671, the NATO standard for unmanned aircraft system airworthiness,” the manufacturer said.
As noted by GA-ASI, the 11-year and USD500 million effort to develop Protector has seen the UAS equipped with features such as lightning protection, fire protection, anti-icing systems, and a fatigue-and-damage-tolerant building block design approach to meet the required NATO STANAG 4671 Edition 2 airworthiness requirement.
“All flight critical software was designed in compliance with the rigor of Do-178/254. Mission software is rigidly separated from flight critical software. These features not only address the aircraft's airworthiness but also enhance its reliability and operational flexibility,” GA-ASI said, adding that many of these enhancements are unique to the MQ-9B in this class of UAS.
Go beyond the headlines - with direct links to interconnected entities
Get full access to validated equipment, military capabilities, and market insights.
