SAN DIEGO – 22 July 2024 – The UK’s Royal Air Power (RAF) now has two Protector RG Mk1 Remotely Piloted Plane (RPA) working at RAF Waddington. The secondProtector has began its floor trial at RAF Station Waddington with first flight anticipated in August.Protector is predicated on the MQ-9B SkyGuardian®RPA developed by Common Atomics Aeronautical Techniques, Inc. (GA-ASI), and is specifically configured for the RAF. The RAF has taken supply of 10 of their whole order of 16 Protectors from GA-ASI, with eight plane at present present process RAF crew coaching, check, and analysis in america.
“We’re thrilled to see a second Protector working at Waddington,” stated Chris Dusseault, GA-ASI’s vp of MQ-9B in Europe. “The Royal Air Power is a good accomplice for GA-ASI, and we sit up for further MQ-9B plane working within the U.Ok. and extra broadly throughout Europe.”
Simon Holford, Uncrewed Air Techniques Supply Workforce Chief at Defence Tools & Help, stated: “Seeing supply and meeting of the second Protector plane within the UK is one more measure of the numerous progress on this undertaking and testomony to the onerous work of everybody concerned. Along with the three plane we have now already taken supply of within the US (which stay within the US to be used in trials and/or coaching), we have now now taken supply of 5 of the sixteen plane we have now ordered.”
Officer Commanding 31 Sqn, Wing Commander Maccoll stated, “I’m delighted to see one other RAF Protector assembled at RAF Waddington, because of the onerous work of our Programme workforce, Defence companions, contractors, and the talent of 31 Squadron personnel. This Summer time, Protector will undertake additional check and analysis and we anticipate extra plane arrivals earlier than the tip of the yr. “
In one other program milestone, the primary of 4 cadres of RAF aircrew accomplished coaching on April 29, 2024, at GA-ASI’s Flight Check and Coaching Heart (FTTC) in Grand Forks, North Dakota. TheGA-ASI coaching concerned RAF Operational Conversion Items (OCUs), that are comprised of eight crews, together with pilots, sensor operators (SOs), and mission intelligence coordinators (MICs) from 31, 54, or 56 Squadrons.
The scope of the coaching is targeted on foundational abilities required to function the Protector air car and its tools, together with the Multi-Spectral Concentrating on System (MTS), Artificial Aperture Radar (SAR), Mission Intelligence Station (MIS), and System for Tasking and Actual-Time Exploitation (STARE). Coaching entails constructing stable foundations for each regular and emergency operations in Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) programs, instrument flying, and Automated Takeoff and Touchdown Functionality (ATLC).
With the completion of the Protector Technicians course at GA-ASI services in Southern California on Might 16, 2024, Quantity 31 Squadron now has one other 21 certified maintainers. As a part of their coaching course, the RAF maintainers have been in a position to straight help the coaching flights for his or her aircrew counterparts who have been finishing the reside flying aspect of their Operational Conversion course from North Dakota.
MQ-9B is GA-ASI’s next-generation RPA System (RPAS), delivering exceptionally lengthy endurance and vary, with auto takeoff and touchdown beneath SATCOM-only management, and can be capable of function in unsegregated airspace utilizing the GA-ASI-developed Detect and Keep away from system. Along with the RAF, contracts have been signed with Belgium, Canada, Taiwan and the U.S. Air Power in help of the Particular Operations Command. The Japan Coast Guard is at present working the MQ-9B for maritime operations, which the Japan Maritime Self-Protection Power (JMSDF) additionally chosen for its Medium-Altitude, Lengthy-Endurance (MALE) Remotely Piloted Plane System Trial Operation Undertaking. MQ-9B has moreover supported numerous U.S. Navy workout routines, together with Northern Edge, Built-in Battle Drawback, and Group Sail.
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