Problems affecting the dissemination of Full Motion Video metadata from the RAF’s Protector remotely piloted aircraft are expected to be resolved by the end of 2026, the Ministry of Defence has said.
Defence Minister Luke Pollard provided the update in response to a written parliamentary question from Conservative MP Ben Obese-Jecty, who asked what progress had been made in resolving metadata dissemination issues identified in the National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority’s Major Projects Annual Report 2025 to 2026.
Pollard said: “Protector has been employed on operations since November 25, with Full Motion Video being passed to operational users.”
The answer confirms that the aircraft is already providing Full Motion Video to operational users despite the outstanding metadata issue.
Full Motion Video provides live or near-live imagery from an aircraft’s sensors, while associated metadata can contain information such as location, sensor position, time and other details required to exploit and distribute the imagery effectively across operational systems. The remaining problem is expected to be addressed during the third quarter of the current financial year.
Pollard said: “Metadata issues are expected to be resolved by the end of Quarter 3 of Financial Year 2026-27 (October to December 2026).”
That gives Defence a window running to the end of December 2026 to complete the work, although the parliamentary answer does not identify the technical cause of the problem or set out the specific measures being taken to correct it. It also has not prevented Protector from being used operationally. Pollard explicitly stated that Full Motion Video is already being delivered to users, with the outstanding work focused on the associated metadata.
Protector is the RAF’s new remotely piloted aircraft system and is replacing the Reaper fleet. It is intended to provide long-endurance intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance and strike capability, with the aircraft able to carry precision-guided weapons as well as sophisticated sensors.
The programme has also been progressing the integration of its weapons. In a separate parliamentary answer published on 8 September, Pollard said previous delays to Brimstone 3 integration had been overcome through a revised programme of US and UK testing, while Paveway IV had been operationally available since March 2026.
