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Unmanned Air Systems

Asked by Ben Obese-JectyConservativeMinistry of DefenceTabled Answered 8 September 2025UIN 72189

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, will the Royal Air Force’s Protector MQ-9B be certified by the (a) civilian aviation authority and (b) the military aviation authority.

Answered by Luke Pollard

As a military registered air system, Protector RG Mk1 only requires certification by the Military Aviation Authority, who issued the Military Type Certificate for the air system in April 2025. Protector is already capable of operating in Class A and C airspace in the UK and the Ministry of Defence continues to work closely with the CAA and international authorities to integrate Protector globally.

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