The Royal Air Force’s Protector RG Mk1, also known as the MQ-9B, has received a Military Type Certificate (MTC) from the UK’s Military Aviation Authority.
According to a recent Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S) statement, this certification marks a significant milestone as it allows the uncrewed aircraft to operate without geographic restrictions, including over populated areas.
“Protector RG Mk1 has reached its next milestone. Our experts are working with General Atomics to bring the new uncrewed air systems into service and, after rigorous airworthiness assessments, Protector has received a Military Type Certificate from the Military Aviation Authority, meaning it is safe to fly without geographic restrictions, including over populated areas of the UK.
This is crucial in the further testing and development of what will provide advanced Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance capabilities (ISTAR) to the Royal Air Force.”
The certification follows a rigorous airworthiness assessment, verifying that the aircraft meets NATO’s STANAG 4671 Edition 2 standards.
The MQ-9B is now the first large, uncrewed aircraft system to receive this certification, highlighting the UK’s commitment to integrating advanced, unmanned technologies into its Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition, and Reconnaissance (ISTAR) capabilities.
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. (GA-ASI), the manufacturer of the MQ-9B, celebrated the certification as a landmark achievement. CEO Linden Blue remarked that earning the MTC was a “herculean effort”, representing an 11-year, $500 million project to develop an unmanned aircraft capable of meeting the NATO airworthiness standards.
Blue stated: “We invested over $500 million as part of an 11-year effort to develop an unmanned aircraft that meets NATO’s rigorous airworthiness standards. This included three flight test aircraft, environmental testing to DO-160G, full-scale fatigue testing to 120,000 hours, and more. Our engineers developed over 140,000 pages of technical data verifying that the MQ-9B met those demanding requirements.”
The MQ-9B incorporates advanced safety measures, including lightning protection, fire protection, anti-icing systems, and a fatigue-and-damage-tolerant building block design. Additionally, the aircraft’s mission software is separate from flight-critical software, enhancing both safety and reliability.
The Royal Air Force is currently taking delivery of Protector RG Mk1 aircraft at RAF Waddington. To date, the UK has received 10 out of the 16 ordered aircraft.
Gp. Capt. Neil Venables, who holds the Protector Type Certificate, praised the achievement: “Achieving the award of a first-in-class Military Type Certificate has required years of dedication and perseverance and is a testament to the hard work of all involved. It is a privilege to be the first to be awarded an MTC for the Protector Air System.”
Beyond the UK, countries including Belgium, Canada, Poland, Japan, Taiwan, India, and the U.S. have placed orders for the MQ-9B, highlighting its global appeal. The platform has also participated in multiple U.S. Navy exercises, demonstrating its versatility and operational capability.
The Protector RG Mk1 is set to enhance the RAF’s ability to conduct ISTAR missions globally, representing a significant advancement in the UK’s unmanned aerial capabilities. For more details on this development, read the full RAF news update.
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Lt Col Stuart Crawford is a defence analyst and former army officer. Sign up for his podcasts and newsletters at www.DefenceReview.uk
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