UK certifies large reconnaissance and strike UAV for the first time
The UK Air Ministry has officially issued a military type certificate (MTC) to the Royal Air Force's Protector RG Mk1 unmanned aerial vehicle, also known as the MQ-9B.
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This is the first time that a large unmanned aircraft system has received such certification, which allows it to operate without geographical restrictions, including over densely populated areas.
General Atomics, the manufacturer of the MQ-9B, was the first to receive the MTC. The company began developing the MQ-9B in 2014, upgrading the previous MQ-9A platform to meet NATO standards.
These include lightning protection, fire protection, an anti-icing system and a robust design to prevent damage.
MQ-9B. Illustration: General Atomics
The company's CEO Linden Blue called the MTC "a success", stressing that the company has invested more than $500 million in the development of the drone.
The UK Royal Air Force has already received 10 of the 16 Protector aircraft ordered. Captain General Neil Venables, head of the Type Airworthiness Directorate, expressed pride in the achievement, noting that "achieving first-in-class military certification has taken years of dedicated work".
Source: Defence Industry Europe
