Historic moment as first cohort of RAF Protector technicians graduate in US 2nd March 2023 at 4:59pm

 

Protector will replace the RAF's Reaper drone fleet (Picture: RAF/MOD).

The first class of RAF technicians qualified to operate Protector RG1, the RAF's new remotely piloted air system, have graduated in the United States.

The RAF engineers received their certificates at a ceremony held at the General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc facility in El Mirage, California.

The 20 graduating students completed training which included classroom-based theory, followed by a six-week period of live operation of the Protector.

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Due to enter service by mid-2024, the Protector RG Mk1, the British variant of the MQ-9B drone, will be capable of being flown anywhere in the world while being operated by personnel located at its RAF Waddington home base.

"The graduation of the first cohort of RAF technicians from our training facility in the USA, marks a transition in the Protector programme as we prepare to accept the first deliveries of Protector to RAF Waddington later this year," Air Commodore Alex Hicks said.

"These engineers are fundamental to our ability to safely operate the next generation of remotely piloted air system capability and precede the start of aircrew training in the coming weeks," he added.

Watch: All you need to know about RAF's next-generation Protector aircraft.

The role of Protector technician represents a new approach to engineering, according to the RAF, bringing together the traditional roles of weapons technician, avionics technician, and mechanical technician.

The new Protector fleet is an upgrade from the Reaper drones, which could carry four Hellfire missiles or two 500-pound laser-guided bombs.

The Protector drone will be fitted with 21 Brimstone missiles and Paveway bomb systems and can fly consistently for up to 40 hours, using onboard sensors to avoid other aircraft.

The role of the Protector is to provide armed surveillance capability, it can be deployed on a wide range of missions including search and rescue and disaster response.

The aircraft will also be able to fly in busy unsegregated airspace due to ‘detect and avoid’ technology.

The graduates are set to return to RAF Waddington to prepare for the arrival of 16 Protectors that will start operations from the home base in Lincolnshire in 2024.

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