The United Kingdom’s Ministry of Defence has signed a long-term contract with General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. (GA-ASI) to provide support for the Royal Air Force’s new Protector RG Mk1 drone fleet.
The agreement, called UK PASS, covers maintenance, spare parts, control stations, and training environments, marking the transition of the program from the testing phase to operational preparation and crew training.
This contract is part of GA-ASI’s global model that shares logistical resources among countries operating the MQ-9B drone, the base model for the British version. This approach aims to reduce costs and increase efficiency through joint operations between nations, using a shared inventory of spare parts managed by the supplier.
The Protector RG Mk1 stands out for its long endurance, extended range, and capability to operate in civilian airspace. The MQ-9B SkyGuardian model is already being adopted by several countries, including Canada, Japan, and the United States, and has been used in military exercises.
The Royal Air Force is expected to soon announce the initial operational capability of its new fleet.
Source: UK Defence Journal | Photo: X @GenAtomics_ASI | This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team
GA-ASI is the pioneer of innovations & advancements of unmanned aircraft, further proven by the UK Military Aviation Authority’s issuance of a Military Type Certificate to RAF Protector RG Mk1 that confirms its safety for unrestricted operational use. Protector is based on MQ-9B… pic.twitter.com/iHJgBIoILn
— General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc (GA-ASI) (@GenAtomics_ASI) May 30, 2025
