Air Power 2017

92 AIR POWER 2017

21 ST CENTURY CAPABILITIES

21 ST CENTURY PARTNERSHIPS

a Typhoon to an F-16, in the future the Protector will
be similarly able to fit into the chain with other RPAS.
Outside the mission, Protector adds further flexibility
to the commander, as it will shorten the time between
deployment and employment and increase overall
areas of operation by using a different satellite control
‘frequency’ than that currently used by Reaper.

Those wanting to fly the Protector are in for an
exciting time. The Ground Control Stations are all
new. Bigger screens, clearer displays, synthetics,
simulation and improved ergonomics accompany this
cutting-edge new aircraft that can fly for up to

40 hours. Flying the aircraft from anywhere in the

world comes as standard and, as occurs now with

Reaper, it is likely that mission crews will pass the aircraft

from operator to operator mid-mission. This means

a single sortie may be controlled by multiple crews

and squadrons during the course of its operation.

EVOLVING CAPABILITIES

Future developments of the aircraft are still speculative,

but additional aircraft, upgraded and multi-mission

radars and the sense-and-avoid technology

are all options. General Atomics is developing a

maritime mission for Protector which, among other

capabilities, will enable it to deploy sonobuoys.

For now, the Protector development aircraft

has made numerous successful flights since

November 2016 and is on schedule thanks to the

proactive approach taken by General Atomics. The

two pre-production aircraft will continue to expand

the flight envelope using the revolutionary new

wing and new flight control software, providing

the necessary data to inform the subsequent

production of the UK’s Protector fleet.

The Protector development aircraft carried out a series of successful flights in November 2016 (PHOTO: GA-ASI)

In-mission tactical

interoperability with

partner nations is key to

this aircraft’s performance