Protector RG Mk1 (UK)

Protector is the UK Ministry of Defence programme, approved in June 2016, to replace the Royal Air Force's MQ-9A Reaper fleet with the Protector RG Mk1, a version of the General Atomics MQ-9B SkyGuardian certified to fly in UK airspace. The MoD ordered three aircraft and three ground control stations in July 2020 and exercised an option for 13 more aircraft in July 2021, for 16 in total, and in June 2025 awarded General Atomics the Protector Availability Support Solution for sustainment. The RAF announced entry into service at RAF Waddington in June 2025, and in January 2026 the MoD said Protector had deployed on operations but had not yet reached initial operating capability.