New RAF drone takes first flight in UK skies

A remotely operated surveillance drone mid-flight at RAF Waddington on an cloudy dayRAF

A total of 16 Protector drones will be in service by 2025, the RAF says

At a glance

  • The Protector takes its first flight in UK airspace over RAF Waddington

  • The new drone is one of 16 which will eventually be based there

  • The drones will be used for several tasks, including counter-terrorism

  • All the drones are expected to be in service by 2025, the RAF says

The first of a new fleet of 16 surveillance drones has taken to the skies at RAF Waddington in Lincolnshire in what the air force called a "fitting milestone".

The Protector drone was successfully taxied and then flew a series of circuits above the air base, according to the RAF.

The drone was controlled remotely by a pilot through a virtual cockpit located at the site, it added.

Gp Capt Al Rutledge, RAF programme director for Protector, said the drone taking its first flight in UK airspace represented "an outstanding team effort".

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Protector is due to take over from Reaper, the RAF's current surveillance drone, which has been in service for the last 15 years.

The new drone will be certified to Nato standards, meaning it will be able to operate in both UK and European civilian airspace.

Protector will be tasked with tracking threats, counter-terrorism and also supporting the UK's coastguard with search and rescue missions.

A total of 15 further aircraft would be delivered by General Atomics from the US over the coming years, the RAF said.

Gp Capt Rutledge said the RAF would now "build on this success and look forward to the next test and evaluation phase as part of our preparations for the in service date later next year".

All the drones were expected to be delivered and in service by July 2025, the Air Force said.

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