The Royal Air Force conducted the Protector RG Mk1’s maiden flight in 2020, and the drone entered operational service in June 2025, having passed a rigorous airworthiness assessment.
The Royal Air Force is preparing one of its most advanced unmanned aerial systems for operational deployment. British Protector RG Mk1 drones are undergoing assurance testing and operational training in order to qualify for operational deployments.
The British version of the US-made MQ-9B SkyGuardian, the Protector RG Mk1 drone will replace the Royal Air Force’s aging fleet of MQ-9A Reapers.
The MQ-9B Protector Mk 1 Drone’s Specifications
- Year Introduced: 2025
- Number Built: Unknown
- Length: 38 ft (11.6 m)
- Wingspan: 79 ft (24 m)
- Weight: 12,500 lb
- Engines: One Honeywell TPE331-10 turboprop engine
- Top Speed: Unknown (~200 mph, 322 km/h, for MQ-9 Reaper)
- Range: Unknown (~30 hours’ endurance)
- Service Ceiling: Unknown (~50,000 ft, 15,240 m, for MQ-9 Reaper)
- Loadout: 500 lb Paveway IV laser-guided bombs; Brimstone 3 missiles
- Aircrew: 0
About Britain’s “Protector” Drone
“The Royal Air Force’s latest Remotely Piloted Air System (RPAS), the Protector RG Mk1, has started deployment assurance testing and operator training in preparation for its replacement of Reaper’s operational role within Op Shader,” the Royal Air Force stated in a social media post.
During assurance testing, Royal Air Force testers will evaluate the drone’s ability to reliably conduct all operational tasks, as well as the drone pilots’ level of training.
The drone specializes in intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition, and reconnaissance (ISTAR) and strike missions.
“Operation Shader” is the British codename for its military’s contribution to the fight against the Islamic State (ISIS). That mission is ongoing, although it has been greatly reduced in scope following the territorial defeat of the so-called “caliphate” in 2017.
“I welcome our newest aircraft into service with the Royal Air Force. I am delighted that the RAF’s Protector has reached this significant and historic milestone on its journey to conducting operations,” Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir Rich Knighton, said in June when the Protector RG Mk1 officially entered service with the Royal Air Force.
The Royal Air Force conducted the Protector RG Mk1’s maiden flight in 2020, and the drone entered operational service in June 2025, having passed a rigorous airworthiness assessment. The last step in the process, declaring the unmanned aerial system available for operational deployment around the world, is now nearly complete.
“Getting to this stage has been a whole force effort, working closely with our industry partners. I would like to thank all those who have been involved in the programme, and I know they will continue to work tirelessly towards achieving full operating capability,” Knighton added.
Drones Are the World’s Most Important Weapon Today
Unmanned aerial systems have revolutionized warfare, offering a plethora of strike and surveillance options to policymakers and military commanders.
The US military and the Intelligence Community have pioneered drone development. Throughout the “Global War on Terror,” US and allied forces relied on drones in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Syria. The US drone program over Pakistan is credited with decimating the rank and file of the Al-Qaeda terror group, though the program’s effectiveness has been accompanied by controversy surrounding its legal justification and the collateral damage it inflicted.
The war in Ukraine further highlighted the role of drones in modern conflict, putting unmanned aerial systems right at the forefront of combat operations, with both combatants relying heavily on unmanned aerial systems for tactical, operational, and strategic solutions on the battlefield and behind the lines.
With its move to declare the Protector RG Mk1 eligible for operational deployments, the Royal Air Force is staying abreast of military developments.
About the Author: Stavros Atlamazoglou
Stavros Atlamazoglou is a seasoned defense journalist specializing in special operations and a Hellenic Army veteran (national service with the 575th Marine Battalion and Army HQ). He holds a BA from the Johns Hopkins University and an MA from the Johns Hopkins’ School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS). His work has been featured in Business Insider, Sandboxx, and SOFREP.
Image: Wikimedia Commons.
