GA-ASI introduced that qualification testing for the MQ-9B, to hold the Paveway IV guided bomb and Brimstone 3 missile was accomplished on Jun. 18, 2026, although notably Paveway IV has already been seen on the plane.
Introduced on the primary day of Farnborough Worldwide Airshow 2026, the information brings some readability to questions over whether or not the Protector RG1 – which is flying operational missions with the Royal Air Drive instead of the retired MQ-9A Reaper – has fully assumed all the capabilities of its predecessor.
Nonetheless, it must be famous that as we reported in June, the Protector RG1 has already been documented carrying Paveway IV in operational service. Airframe PR010 was proven in official Ministry of Defence (MoD) photographs carrying one instance of the precision guided bomb alongside what we consider to be an Outdragon pod.
New Photographs Present RAF Protector RG1 Working from Akrotiri with ‘Outdragon’ SIGINT Pod
The UK Ministry of Defence has printed new images of the primary deployments of the MQ-9B Protector RG1 to RAF Akrotiri on Cyprus, together with a few of the greatest official views of what’s believed…
— The Aviationist (@TheAviationist) June 23, 2026
Probably, the weapon – and probably different payloads – had been authorised for carriage forward of the official qualification as an pressing operational requirement, for the reason that Reaper already bowed out of service.
GA-ASI say this marks the primary time the agency has led on the combination of weapons on behalf of a buyer. The method was accomplished in Southern California.
“The Royal Air Drive is our MQ-9B launch buyer and we’re right here to help them in any means we are able to,” stated firm President David R. Alexander. “Main the qualification check was a singular expertise and we’re excited to finish the method so efficiently for the RAF.”
Protector was the primary plane in its class to realize a Navy Kind Certificates from the UK Navy Aviation Authority (MAA), granting it the power to function alongside crewed plane in unsegregated airspace. Which means that, not like the Reaper, the Protector fleet is predicated within the UK and may function immediately from RAF Waddington. In reality, it was additionally already documented flying from RAF Waddington with Paveway IVs.
PROTECTOR has been seen flying with reside Paveway IVs, however so far as i’ve been in a position to collect, not but with BRIMSTONE 3. Whether or not that absence particularly is what’s holding again IOC declaration, i don’t know.
B3 gathered severe delays, been a “Crimson” mission for some time (1)
— Gabriele Molinelli (@Gabriel64869839) February 13, 2026
16 Protectors have been ordered for the RAF, changing 10 MQ-9s. As a result of means to work in unsegregated airspace, it’s doubtless the Protector RG1 will assume a wider diploma of roles in comparison with its predecessor. This might embrace supporting UK-based workouts which beforehand relied on crewed plane taking part in the position of an uncrewed platform overhead. It might additionally tackle a few of the shortfall in intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) functionality as soon as the Shadow is withdrawn from service.
“The completion of U.S.-based safe-separation weapons testing is a landmark achievement for the Protector RG Mk1. It demonstrates not solely the maturity of the platform, but in addition the power of the programme to combine superior weapons with a cutting-edge, licensed remotely piloted air system, delivering advantages to each the UK and our companions,” stated RAF Programme Director, Group Captain Rob Evans. “Protector will present operational commanders with persistent intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, mixed with extremely exact strike functionality, making certain that the UK stays geared up to fulfill evolving safety challenges in an more and more advanced safety atmosphere.”
GA-ASI says plane are nonetheless being delivered to the service. The final public assertion by the MoD stated that eight airframes have been in energetic service – plenty of additional airframes have been ‘delivered’ however are being utilized for trials and testing functions.
Alongside the RAF, the MQ-9B has been delivered to Belgium and Japan. Prospects pending supply embrace Canada, Denmark, Poland, Germany, India, Qatar, Taiwan, and the U.S. Air Drive Particular Operations Command. A possible purchase for the broader U.S. Air Drive has been touted because the logical means to reply to the lack of numerous MQ-9As throughout Operation Epic Fury and prior operations in opposition to the Houthi rebels, although present efforts appear targeted on securing the few remaining MQ-9A spec airframes obtainable.
Denmark joins the U.Okay., Belgium and Poland within the rising listing of European nations which have chosen #MQ9B for its multi-domain capabilities with exceptionally lengthy vary and endurance. The versatile system offers superior, interoperable ISR&T capabilities to Denmark and…
— Common Atomics Aeronautical Programs, Inc (GA-ASI) (@GenAtomics_ASI) August 7, 2025
Additionally introduced at this 12 months’s Farnborough Worldwide Airshow was the information that GA-ASI has progressed alongside the pathway to certifying the Kongsberg Joint Strike Missile (JSM) on the MQ-9B. JSM – which, in ideally suited circumstances, has a variety in extra of 500 kilometres – would give MQ-9B a big improve when it comes to lengthy vary strike.
Regardless of the heavy losses suffered by the U.S. Reaper fleet in recent times, it’s clear the platform remains to be held in excessive regard all through the trade. The U.S. Air Drive itself labelled the Reaper as its ‘most beneficial platform’ through the U.S.-Iran battle.
