Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
General Atomics: UK Protector Advances Civil Certification Effort
Military certification of the Protector variant of the MQ-9B unmanned aircraft is expected in 2021-2022, followed by civil certification.
The YBCO1 prototype of the MQ-9B Sky Guardian is shown August 16 at Gray Butte Field Airport. (Photo: General Atomics)
The YBCO1 prototype of the MQ-9B Sky Guardian is shown August 16 at Gray Butte Field Airport. (Photo: General Atomics)

General Atomics’s work on building the MQ-9B remotely piloted aircraft to NATO airworthiness requirements helps pave the way toward broader introduction of unmanned aircraft into civilian airspace, company executives said. The manufacturer plans to start delivering the “Protector” variant to the UK Royal Air Force by late next year; it expects the service will certify the variant to manned aircraft standards by 2021-2022, allowing the Protector to fly over populated areas.