UK Defence Forum

The biggest change, not yet visible in that image for obvious reasons, is the long wing with more fuel and more payload capacity.

And that's before we get to the internals, extra power, anit-icing etc.. Lots to changes add up to make it quite a different aircraft.

Contract incoming for final Protector development. Integration of Brimstone 2 and Paveway IV apparently included. http://www.defensenews.com/articles/uk- ... dator-deal

Good stuff, but nothing firm on numbers

That all seems like good news but the word "eventually" before mentioning Brimstone and Paveway kind of sours the whole thing.

Yes eventually means yes you can do it but it will cost.

Expected 2021.

Having an interest/hobby in military developments and technologies is amazing, but goodness me it sure isn't one with fast developments.

RetroSicotte wrote:Expected 2021.

Seems like a long time even if development takes two years.

Some nice endurance figures being broken here :-

https://www.defenceonline.co.uk/2017/06 ... ny-record/

An excellent capability on the way.

Reaper pilots that come from a fast jet background talk about the benefit of having the time to sit, watch, work out what is an extraordinary situation, and make a sound decision. This is going to extend that principal considerably.

Interested how that can be applied to the maritime domain, something the RAF have expressed an interest in previously.

Replacement moving forward.

http://www.janes.com/article/78529/uk-p ... tector-uav

Confirms 16 ordered, 20 "required".

So, 16 it is then these days.

USMC today issued a request for information for a tilt rotor MALE UAV.

16 Protector is fine as long as we get 16 of tilt rotor Protectors for QE ....

A small team of RAF personnel are preparing the way for the introduction into service of the UK’s new remotely piloted air system, the MQ-9B Protector.

The Protector Combined Test Team comprises experienced pilots, sensor operators and engineers from the RAF, industry partners and the United States Air Force who are coordinating the testing and evaluation of the Protector system.

The UK is investing in an initial 16 Protector aircraft which will replace the MQ-9 Reaper in RAF service.

Read More: https://www.raf.mod.uk/news/protector-c ... test-team/



That's a lot of Brimstone.

Wow that is a lot of Brimstone above
More information here....
http://www.defense-aerospace.com/articl ... r-uav.html

I've been of the opinion that getting 16 (down from 20) is a waste of money as the old ones were good enough (for the job).

My opinion can be influenced:
- thx for the contribution!

more range, more endurance, more electricity, more weapons, more weather conditions, busy environments, the new ones will be even better at the job, and useful outside deserts.

shark bait wrote:the new ones will be even better at the job

I was trying to single out the limited scope, and the fact that
"good enough"
thinking still does not seem to have grown roots (in the MoD).
- cfr. Lord Jim's inventory of the age of some key items, and the lack of money for them as they are not shine or pointy enough

No doubt technology-wise the new ones are decades ahead (as they should).

drones are so. so. so. so. so. important. arguably for their intelligence aspect over their combat applications.

Well said! The RAF's new version is approaching a mission endurance of 2 days, nothing even comes close to matching its on-station time.

Is our next war again going to be surveying mud huts, and firing a Hellfire at anyone who tries to sneak out on a moped?

Not trying to build up a controversy, just testing your assumptions
- fancy gear that is not survivable in a hot war is... just fancy gear

Of course drones are important for intelligence/ targeting, but you need a layered approach. Which would include masses of cheap/ expendable drones that can be operated as swarms if that is what it takes for enough to survive, for long enough
- where are those? Can't see any; not even a budget line for them
- as for the headlined matter, the 16 (not 20 to begin with) probably eat that "lunch"
Ohh! and then we have the 57 minus any write-offs of those that cover a bde's area of ops, but take off from a kilometer of runway. Check out the cumulative spend on those and add on top of "Protector" money

ArmChairCivvy wrote:Is our next war again going to be surveying mud huts, and firing a Hellfire at anyone who tries to sneak out on a moped?

Its not unlikely.

These new Aircraft have are capable of operating in many more environments than the current generation, so we might even be able to use them outside the desert too!

shark bait wrote:use them outside the desert too!

North Atlantic?

Its on the cards, Atlas working on a sonobuoy dispenser, the US did a tech demo a while ago, and I've heard its a role the RAF are looking at exploiting. Team it with a P8 and it starts to look good on paper.

A cheaper alternative to the Global Hawk variant the USN is planning, plus the Protector could actually reach out and touch someone, which I don't think the USN plans allow for. Those 18 Brimstone would make a group of low tech FACs like those used by the Iranian Republicans very unhappy.

http://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/19 ... r-missiles

wonder if A2A is going to be on the protector?