UK Signs Support Deal for Protector Drones

The United Kingdom’s Ministry of Defence has signed a logistics and sustainment contract with General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) to support the Protector RG Mk1 Remotely Piloted Aircraft system. Known as the UK Protector Availability and Support Solution (UK PASS), the contract covers maintenance, ground control systems, and synthetic training systems.

The Protector, based on GA-ASI’s MQ-9B SkyGuardian, is now in service with the Royal Air Force. UK PASS marks the transition from testing to operational training and includes support services under GA-ASI’s SkyGuardian Global Support Solutions, a logistics model that shares resources across multiple customers to reduce costs.

“The awarding of the PASS contract marks three years of intensive work between GA-ASI and UK MOD multidisciplinary teams to turn a concept in to a reality. This has generated a first-in class sustainment solution for the Royal Air Force Protector fleet, that exploits contractor owned inventory from a global common spares pool. This contract differs from a traditional spares and repairs contract, achieving economies of scale via a multi-customer common operating model,” said Group Captain Rich Cameron – Uncrewed Air System 3 Team Leader.

The MQ-9B platform is currently used by several nations, including Canada, Japan, and Poland, with support extending to exercises conducted by the U.S. Navy and Air Force.