The Ministry of Defence has confirmed significant progress on the Protector drone programme, with the system moving closer to full operational capability.
The advanced unmanned air system (UAS), designed to enhance the UK’s intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities, is also being considered for a maritime role in the Northern Atlantic and Arctic regions.
Responding to a parliamentary question from Johanna Baxter, Labour MP for Paisley and Renfrewshire South, Minister for Defence Procurement Maria Eagle outlined the latest developments:
“Protector training has now transferred to the UK, having completed four aircrew basic qualification courses in the United States. Further, four Protector Air Vehicles have now been delivered to RAF Waddington, where they are being maintained by 31 Squadron engineers,” she confirmed.
“The required Test and Evaluation activity and UK training is underway, ahead of the planned platform in-service declaration later in 2025.”
The UK is leading the MQ-9 International Cooperation Support Partnership, which now includes seven participant members—Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the UK—alongside five observer nations. “The UK is working closely with the NATO Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Force to scope options to provide Protector in support of operations in the Northern Atlantic and Arctic regions,” Eagle stated.
Challenges and Red Rating in the IPA Annual Report
Despite progress, the programme has faced challenges. In a separate question from Mark Francois, Conservative MP for Rayleigh and Wickford, Eagle addressed concerns about the Protector drone system’s downgrade to a red rating in the Infrastructure and Projects Authority (IPA) Annual Report 2023-24.
“The downgrade of Protector to a red rating was primarily driven by a delay to the approval of the Review Note, which is being considered as part of the ongoing Strategic Defence Review,” she said. However, she reassured that “there are no anticipated cost increases, and all costs captured within the Review Note remain extant.”
The timeline for full operational capability has not yet been confirmed.
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I think we definitely require an addional batch of Protectors in their full Sea Guardian guise to support the P7 fleet.
A no brainer having a maritime role. These are the first operational RPAS of this type to be home
based. Predator/Reaper spent their time monitoring terrorists and insurgents in the Middle East, being unable to fly here.
Will they double hat them and fly them from the carriers too, or buy another batch for the FAA?
I understand the Mojave is basically this aircraft?
I agree, I don’t even think we need a new batch to get started on this, the current aircraft can take the maritime radar. Sonar buoys are probably not that essential but nice to have long term. As for Mojave we should make a priority of getting four onboard the QE class ASAP. My understanding is that the original Mojave aircraft used in trials is not the same but what GA are proposing as a final solution is the exact same aircraft just with a different wing kit which can be changed. The Maritime radar is already rated to provide… Read more »
I agree completely, this shift is a recognition that the original role of Protector just isn’t as necessary as it used to be.
Much more useful over the North Atlantic and Baltic, sweeping huge areas of sea in a single mission.
Mojave isn’t all that useful for the carriers. The range with any effective strike payload isn’t all that great because it’s designed to fly from very close to the front lines. A better idea might be to get a further few Protector, plumbed for sonobuoys and the STOL wing kit (assuming the flight deck operations can be sorted out).
HI DM – no doubt this has made you happy. I recall you advocating this very thing a couple of years ago on this forum!
Not quite. Mojave is a STOL adaptation (not wing kit) for the very much smaller Grey Eagle drone. It’s largely a CAS/tactical reconnaissance thing, like a more rugged and capable Watchkeeper. Protector is absolutely massive in comparison, MTOW of 12,500lbs rather than 7000 and nearly twice the endurance for any given payload. We’ve discussed on NL that there are actually issues fitting it on the deck of the QEs if you want to retain the F35 park to port and the taxiway to starboard, and landing accuracies make the problem worse. The STOL kit (this time not a separate variant)… Read more »
There’s only 16, this would definitely require a larger order
16 is plenty for the naval mission and Europe, just keep the older MQ9 on in the Middle East for terrorist role.
Exactly this.
Sadly, as thing’s stand, I understand the legacy Reapers are going.
The usual MoD thing, seems such a waste as the need for persistent ISTAR over the ME has not gone away.
We have the assets out there.
Use them?
Agree…binning something because you have something new seems to be an MOD obsession…unless they don’t want to buy something then they keep it running way beyond the time it should be binned.
Spot on Danieie!
We need more. End of.
Original requirement was for 20 but was then cut to 16 – surprise, surprise……
I’m sure I queried a few weeks back whether the downgrading of a project (can’t remember which) presumed from some of the associated as usual fluffy language expressed by Eagle (or whatever lacky expressed it) could possibly be due to delays explicitly due to the pending the Defence Review. At that point I didn’t even myself believe it was likely, it just seemed stupid to downgrade something due to factors outside of the actual project itself. However the above statement seems to suggest in this case that actually is an important factor. Even by defence standards claiming a project is… Read more »
You are basically right in what you are saying but these audits are essentially paper trial inspections. They are primarily concerned with understanding whether the project has followed the ‘process’. My reading of the above is that in this case, due to unfortunate timing, the Review Note has been held up while the project has trundled on, effectively meaning it as not got all of the necessary documentation in place to move forward. However, I suspect there has been an outbreak of common sense meaning the project continued without the document in place, probably because there was an assessment that… Read more »
Hopefully the options held on a further nine will be taken up, preferably with vstol kits when available.
VSTOL? Surely you mean STOL?
If we take up the further nine, they should be intended from the outset to operate in maritime patrol, both from home and from the carriers with wing kits.
Ideally Spear would be integrated on the whole fleet, as well.
Sadly having a search radar mounted on the Protector won’t make a better overall AEW platform than Crowsnest, even if it can cruise at 40,000ft compared to the Merlin’s 10.000ft. The reason is the size and type of radar carried. Due to the aircraft’s relatively small size and electrical power generation, you will be limited to using X-band (8 to 12GHz) or above radars. Admittedly a modern X-band AESA will definitely perform better than the Crowsnest’s Searchwater 2000. As it can generate a much tighter beam pattern, along with a significantly faster sweep rate. So for a similar power output… Read more »
I think we’ve all accepted that as a pure AEW platform Protector won’t cut it, but at least the Seaspray radar has an air to air mode and so could contribute to the air picture.
The real advantage is the long endurance “stare” at a surface target or the option of dropping sonobuoys at extreme range for a fraction of the cost of a P8.
What are your opinions on the potential for the Proteus helicopter in the AEW role?
The Leonardo Proteus helicopter drone, with either the Thales Seaspray AESA or a Leonardo Osprey AESA, would be very useful for ships that are not attached to a carrier force. Like I mentioned earlier, you really require a radar with greater than 250 miles detection range for a carrier group. Otherwise there is potential for your opponent to take it out, before the threat is detected in time. Mind you if the drone is operating close to the parent ship. The ship’s air defences may be able to defend the drone from the threat. If for example we have a… Read more »
Thanks Davey, that’s really useful. So Proteus isn’t really viable as a carrier AEW, but is unique in that it can be operated from a typical escort alongside the standard helicopter? I’ve seen pictures of a T45 hangar with a Lynx and Wildcat side by side, so I think you could have 2 Proteus alongside the Wildcat, maybe 4 or 5 by themselves. Hopefully Leonardo hurry up and get some torpedo/surface strike options for the module alongside ASW and AEW. Then it becomes viable to replace Wildcat rather than just act alongside it. I think Sea Venom is drop launched,… Read more »
I think it would be quite easy to fit a wing to either side of the Proteus’s fuselage, like they did with the Wildcat. This could then allow a mixed load out configuration such as Martlet and Sea Venom. To see how useful a Proteus AEW would be for a Type 45. Let’s consider the scenario of the T45 sailing off the coast of Yemen and being attacked by the Houthis, who have just launched a Noor sea skimming missile from a coastal battery. This has a published cruising speed of Mach 0.9 and can perform a terminal dash of… Read more »
A great summary Davey, cheers for that. I don’t understand the point of an AEW helo platform. I imagine it can’t go much above 10,000 ft (crew would need oxygen masks). So would this not easily limit how far the radar can see due to the earth’s curvature etc).
Hi mate, yes the cabin of a Merlin being unpressurized would normally limit the height the aircraft can reach. Unless the crew use supplied oxygen. Needing to wear a close fitting mask for a couple of hours is quite fatiguing, as it makes the skin really itchy. The radar horizon extends slightly further than the visible horizon, due to the way the atmosphere affects radio waves. At 10,000ft the radar horizon is about 227km (141 miles) away, whilst at 20,000ft it’s 321km (200 miles). So irrespective of the radar’s effective radiate power. Operating at a higher altitude will potentially allow… Read more »
Great summary – thanks so much Davey!