Page 18 - issue19.04.2019
P. 18

Royal Air Force News Friday, April 19, 2019 P18                                                                                                                                                                                                                               Royal Air Force News Friday, April 19, 2019 P19

        Feature Airpower


         PROTECTOR GOES GLOBAL














                                                                                                                                                                                                           RAF’s new remotely-piloted


                                                                                                                                                                                                               aircraft will be capable of



                                                                                                                                                                                                         flying anywhere in the world






















































                 ROUNDBREAKING work to give  first aircraft of its type to be         major landmark by undergoing its first  Protector  to  fly  in  much  of  the  civilian-                                                                     We’ve had
                 the RAF’S new remotely-piloted  able to taxi over a satellite link.  full flight using a new bespoke Certifiable  class airspace around the world.                                                                            “
           Gair system global reach is being      Sqn Ldr Laidlaw said: “The          Ground Control Station. The technology   Combined Test Team chief Wg Cdr                                                                                 to take the
           conducted in a remote part of Arizona.  first aircraft was the baseline    enables a three-person crew of pilot,  Iain Hutchinson (left) said: “We’re working                                                                       old cockpit
              Air Force personnel are cooperating  shape of the Protector. The       sensor operator and mission intelligence  together to generate evidence to show
           closely with their US counterparts and  second aircraft brings some       coordinator to operate Protector from the  that the Protector aircraft provides the                                                                       and change it
           manufacturer  General Atomics to enable  newer  elements                  ground using touch screens even though  capabilities the RAF requires  and, more                                                                          completely so
           the Protector to fly anywhere in the world.  which the RAF                     the aircraft itself may be thousands  importantly, is safe to operate in all the
              And they are equipping the aircraft  Protector  will                         of miles away, being controlled via  environments in which we want to use it.                                                                       we can certify it
           with British Paveway IV and Brimstone 3   have, mainly an                         a satellite link.             “It’s quite early days in the test                                                                                  to civil aviation
           missiles, advanced sensors and intelligence-  anti-icing system                       Sqn Ldr Laidlaw said: “We’ve  programme but the benefit of the RAF
           gathering capabilities.              and    lightning                               had to take the old cockpit  being involved at this early stage is we                                                                           standards. This
              Protector pilot Sqn Ldr Ben Laidlaw  protection.                                  and change it completely,  have influence over the design and                                                                                  will allow us
           said: “Protector is a step change from   “The    test                                 so we can certify it to civil  development of the aircraft and the systems
           Reaper as it will bring the ability for us  programme  is                             aviation standards. The  that support it.”                                                                                                    to integrate in
           to be integrated into the national airspace  going very well,                         new cockpit will allow    With longer endurance, better load                                                                                  civilian airspace
           system within both the UK and Europe.  and  we will  have                             the aircraft to integrate  carrying capability for weapons and
              “We’re certifying the whole aircraft so a  four test aircraft                      in civilian airspace along  improved sensors, Protector is regarded as                                                                        along with all
           Military Aviation Authority certificate can  before  the first UK                     with  all  sorts  of  manned  a significant leap in capability from Reaper.                                                                   sorts of manned
           be issued allowing flight in UK airspace.”  production Protector.”                   aircraft.”                 Training of frontline RAF crews will
              The Combined Test Team are testing                                               The team will also play a key  begin in the early 2020s in the USA initially,                                                                   aircraft
           two prototypes to enable Protector to take   arlier this year the                 role in the integration of detect-  in advance of the type’s entry into Service   PILOT: Sqn Ldr                                                           ”
           off and land automatically and become the  Eaircraft achieved a                   and-avoid technology to enable  at RAF Waddington with 31 Squadron.  Ben Laidlaw                                                                          Sqn Ldr Laidlaw

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             THREE STAR:
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           Air Mshl Sue Gray
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