Air Power 2017

21 ST CENTURY PARTNERSHIPS AIR POWER 2017 91

21 ST CENTURY CAPABILITIES

Protector will be

equipped with

the Brimstone

air-to-surface

missile and the

Paveway IV guided

munition, as this

mock-up illustrates

(IMAGE: GA-ASI)

subject to the rules of the air, in UK and European
airspace. Developments are under way to provide
Protector with both cooperative and non-cooperative
sense-and-avoid technology, allowing it to eventually
operate in controlled and uncontrolled airspace,
employing sensors and logic to maintain safety. It is
likely that this technology will quickly prove to be safer
and more comprehensive than solely human lookout,
so will directly improve safety for manned aircraft. This
really marks the beginning of the next age in aviation.
The Protector has in-built lightning protection
and anti-icing capability, so it can fly in many more
circumstances than Reaper, and has significantly greater
payload and endurance, with twice the design life
of its predecessor. It features an automatic take-off
and landing system that has been combat-proven by
the US Forces in almost 80,000 trouble-free missions.

This allows us to maximise automation and focus our

crew training on the complex in-mission activities.

As well as a whole host of next-generation sensors

for reconnaissance and surveillance (which will be

the aircraft’s main roles), the Protector will carry the

British-made MBDA Brimstone missile and Raytheon

Paveway IV laser and GPS-guided munition, giving

the aircraft a punch to match its eyes and ears.

SEAMLESS INTEGRATION

In-mission tactical interoperability with partner

nations is key to this aircraft’s performance and, from

the start, it has been designed to link seamlessly to

other NATO capabilities and to fit into the existing

and future intelligence networks. In the same way,

where a supported commander can today witness a

seamless transition during a mission from, for example,