Protector weapons now include Paveway IV and Brimstone 3
Weapons testing for the Royal Air Force’s Protector RG Mk1 has finished, qualifying the Paveway IV laser-guided bomb and the Brimstone 3 air-to-surface missile for launch from GA-ASI’s MQ-9B aircraft.
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. Completed the work on 18th June 2026 at its Southern California facilities. Under UK Ministry of Defence approval, the tests met all requirements for certification of safe carriage and weapon release.
That milestone concluded six years of U.S. And U.K. Government and industry collaboration. It also marked the first time GA-ASI led weapons qualification testing for a customer.
GA-ASI President David R. Alexander called the Royal Air Force the MQ-9B launch customer and said the company was pleased to complete the process successfully for the RAF.
Protector RG Mk1 is based on GA-ASI’s MQ-9B SkyGuardian. Meanwhile, the Royal Air Force continues to take delivery of new Protector aircraft at RAF Waddington.
Group Captain Rob Evans
RAF Programme Director Group Captain Rob Evans described the U.S.-based safe-separation weapons testing as a landmark achievement for Protector RG Mk1. He said it showed both the platform’s maturity and the programme’s ability to integrate advanced weapons with a certified remotely piloted air system.
“Protector will provide operational commanders with persistent intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, combined with highly precise strike capability,” Evans said.
In 2025, Protector received a Military Type Certificate from the UK’s Military Aviation Authority. As a result, it became the first large unmanned aircraft system to gain that distinction.
Because of that certificate, Protector can operate without geographic restrictions, including over populous areas. According to GA-ASI, that approval widened where the aircraft can fly in U.K. Service.
MQ-9B is GA-ASI’s medium-altitude, long-endurance uncrewed aerial system family. It includes SkyGuardian, SeaGuardian and Protector.
Beyond the RAF, Belgian Defence and the Japan Coast Guard already operate MQ-9B. Orders have also come from Canada, Denmark, Poland, Germany, India, Qatar, Taiwan and the U.S. Air Force for Special Operations Command support.
MQ-9B has also appeared in U.S. Navy exercises including Northern Edge, Integrated Battle Problem, RIMPAC and Group Sail. GA-ASI says its unmanned aircraft have logged more than 9 million flight hours.
