TSAMTO, September 13. According to General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI), the acceptance test procedure for the first "British" UAV of long duration flight "Protector" RG Mk1 has been successfully completed.
The device was officially transferred to the command of the British Air Force, which is its first customer.
The UAV was officially accepted by Air Vice Marshal Simon Ellard, Director of Combat Aviation of the Organization for the Purchase and Maintenance of Defense Products (Defense Equipment & Support – DE&S) of the UK Ministry of Defense. As planned, the UAV will be delivered to Waddington Air Base in 2023.
The acceptance test procedure was carried out jointly by the British Ministry of Defense and GA-ASI at the GA-ASI Desert Horizon Flight Control Center in El Mirage (California). Before being sent to the UK, the UAV will be used to train operators and technical personnel of the British Air Force.
At the same time, ground support equipment (Pre-flight and Post-flight Equipment) was accepted, which will replace the outdated RAMTS maintenance test station, which was used to support the MQ-9A UAV.
As reported by TSAMTO, in November 2016, the US State Department approved the potential supply of up to 26 Certified Predator B UAVs to the UK under the Foreign Military Sales program (16 with an option to supply 10 additional UAVs), related equipment and services with a total value of up to $ 1 billion.
In December 2016, the Ministry of Defense of the United Kingdom signed an initial contract with GA-ASI worth 100 million pounds for the development of a medium-altitude UAV of long flight duration "Protector" in accordance with British requirements. As part of the agreement, the American company has created a device adapted to the requirements of the British Air Force.
In July 2020, the Ministry of Defense of Great Britain signed a contract with GA-ASI worth 65 million pounds ($82 million) for the supply of the first three UAV "Protector" RG Mk1, as well as three ground control stations and other auxiliary equipment. The contract included an option to supply 13 more UAVs and four ground control stations, which was implemented on July 22, 2021. The cost of the additional purchase was 195 million pounds ($ 230 million).
Thus, at the moment, the total number of UAVs "Protector" RG Mk1 ordered for the British Air Force is 16 units.
As planned, the first "Protector" RG Mk1 will be adopted by the British Armed Forces in 2023.
