The UK and Belgium have agreed a Bilateral Statement of Intent (SoI) to explore collaboration on the MQ-9B Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS) which both nations are acquiring.
Known as Protector RG Mk1 in the UK, MQ-9B is the first RPAS to be designed, built and certified against stringent NATO and UK Safety Certification standards equivalent to piloted aircraft to allow flight in unsegregated civilian airspace.
According to the Royal Air Force, the SoI was signed by Air Chief Marshal Mike Wigston, Chief of the Air Staff, and Major General Frederik Vansina, Commander of the Belgian Air Component. The RAF add that both parties will now focus on opportunities to work together on training, maintenance, logistic support, interoperability and capability enhancement.
Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Mike Wigston was quoted as saying:
“This Statement of Intent between the UK and Belgium reflects our shared ambition for Protector, the MQ-9B Remotely Piloted Aircraft System, working in partnership to tackle threats to our national and collective security. The Royal Air Force and Belgian Air Force will explore opportunities to train, maintain and work together on this game changing aircraft using its cutting-edge sensors and systems to protect national, NATO and European security. The introduction of Protector MQ-9B reflects a step change in remotely piloted aircraft operations in Europe and worldwide. The Royal Air Force is delighted that the Belgian Air Force will stand beside us again on that historic journey.”
Last month Defence Secretary Ben Wallace announced a contract to build the first three UK Protectors with an option for 13 more in due course. Belgium is procuring four MQ-9Bs.
What ever happened to taranis…
Indeed. It seemed like the most advanced.
From what I last read it was only ever designed as a demonstrator to test systems and capabilities not a final solution in itself on the basis that such aircraft will be likely required by the 2030s and no doubt with the intention of showing the suits what such capabilities can do. It completed its programme accordingly. Hopefully though I have no personal knowledge Bae are using the knowledge (and hopefully interest) gained to plan for such an evolution. I am sure that it could have been pushed on for production but sensors and technology for such aircraft are evolving and progressing all the time and I do think it important to time it right in effectively settling for a suite of technology and ability that might when it enters service be effectively obsolete. I think that two other factors are effecting this too, working out precisely what role(s) such an aircraft will carry out (note the Americans have had conflict on this one with their own efforts and we don’t have their money to throw away) and no doubt work that is being carried out on Tempest that will undoubtedly effect all sorts of issues around such an aircraft directly and how they might interact, perhaps even combine them to an extent.
Now thats the technological take but with the present effects from COVID who knows what decision will be made on taking any such project forward for the foreseeable due to budget cuts. My feeling is that the concept continues to be worked on and refined and further news will come out eventually around what any final form might take if its affordable but I suspect that won’t happen before Tempest is far more solidified in what it is to be so may be some time Im afraid. I suspect rather less advanced cheaper and more conventional drone type aircraft (loyal wingmen) will be preferred as follow ups to the Protector type drone before anything of taranis nature comes into service. It would be horrific for such a programme to cost billions and then be effectively unusable in service as so often happened in the early jet age when technical/aerodynamic/engine knowledge was still in flux and the concepts that dictated their usefulness.
But hey political incompetence is always the elephant in the room.
I think this gives us an insight as to what Taranis was designed to do!
Tempest-Loyal Wingman.
“Taranis unmanned combat air vehicle
The project was directed towards designing and flying an unmanned aircraft, gathering the evidence needed to inform decisions about a future long-range offensive aircraft and evaluating UAVs’ contribution to the RAF’s future mix of aircraft.
Taranis is stealthy, fast, able to carry out test deployment of a range of munitions over a number of targets, and to defend itself against manned and other unmanned enemy aircraft.”
https://www.airforce-technology.com/projects/tanaris/
Taranis was only a half size demonstrator and our government unlike the French didnt stump up the money to produce the next prototype in the development programme.
So is it on hold or cancelled?
I believe the money was redirected to tempest
Taranis is an alternative one-way delivery system for instant sunshine.
So 20 as the number banded about in the corridors of main building was pie in the sky.
I read we were using Australian ‘pilots’ to control our predators because we didn’t have enough trained, so i don’t think we could realistically up our fleet at this point beyond optics of having more but not being able to use them.
I remember when I was in the mob we had 20 Kiwis flying the Jag in the early 2000s. We were short of drivers and the RNZF got rid of thier scooters.
The MoD like using “up to – ” phrases to inflate things.
Though I don’t see using Australian pilots as a problem.
When it comes to intelligence, we are hand in glove with the 5 eyes nations.
Same systems, procedures, joint working. With exceptions of course.
For example, the DIFC and other elements of Pathfinder at Wyton are multi service, multi agency, and have other nations staff embedded. Are we under staffed? Or simply working collaboratively.
When we became involved in the Predator programme we were embedded with the USAF at Indian Springs, with 39 Sqn, and still are, even though we now also use Waddington and have expanded with the addition of 13 Squadron.
I’m confident we will get at least as many Protector as we have Predators now, which is what? 10? 12?
The problem isn’t that Australian pilots were used, it was that there wasn’t’ enough RAF ones available, which is a significant problem.
We don’t have Predators. The Australians are buying Reaper, hence they have embedded their aircrew in both USAF and RAF Reaper units to gain experience before their own are delivered.
Looks that way Mark – I bet we won’t get anything close to the 16 now touted.
I wonder if the Belgians’ 4 Protectors, the 4 we were going to buy?
The 20% hammer at work perhaps?
Wouldn’t surprise me. Belgium is unlikely to have received a competitive price purchasing 4, so the UK tagged them onto its order of 16 to help them both push the price down. Realistically European Nato countries need to do more joint off the shelf procurement and integrate maintenance and training costs to operate more efficiently.
Canny negotiators, the Belgians.
But unreliable as a dependable ally. I remember the Falklands when we asked Belgium for Artillery ammo but they refused