RAF instructors begin training on UK Protector simulator in US
Personnel from 54 Squadron, the Advanced Air Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance (ISTAR) Academy, are undertaking the first Instructor Operating Course on Protector simulators at the General Atomics in Grand Forks, North Dakota.
Due to enter service by mid-2024, the Protector RG Mk1, is the British variant of the MQ-9B drone, which will be capable of being flown anywhere in the world while being operated by personnel located at its RAF Waddington home base.
The crew, comprising a Pilot, Sensor Operator, and Mission Intelligence Coordinator (MIC), on the future Operational Conversion Course (OCU) have been testing various scenarios, under the tuition of GA Instructors.
Simulated missions included an Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) activity to find, fix and follow designated targets on the ground - with the pilot maintaining an optimum position in the air, while the Sensor Operator and MIC work together to maintain target tracking.
The objective of this course is to familiarise the future instructors with RAF-specific training material and mission scenarios that will form the basis of RAF training for all Protector crews.
Future OCU training will evaluate the skills required to operate Protector and its equipment, including real-time exploitation of intelligence involving the Multi-Spectral Targeting System and Synthetic Aperture Radar.
Officer Commanding 54 Squadron, Wing Commander Rob Evans said, "The Protector Instructor Orientation Course marks an important milestone in the Programme and in the training of the OCU 1 crews, the majority of whom will be the first batch of RAF instructors on Protector.
"Ensuring the course and the simulator scenarios that support training delivery are suitable for all experience levels is paramount if we are to achieve our future training output.
"This groundwork, conducted in partnership with General Atomics, will see Protector become a game changing capability for the RAF and future international partners, with realistic simulation at the very heart of training delivery and operational effectiveness.”
Equipped with a suite of advanced equipment and precision strike weapons, Protector will provide critical armed surveillance capability and will be able to deploy against potential adversaries around the globe.
The aircraft will also be able to fly in busy unsegregated airspace thanks to ‘detect and avoid’ technology with a potential endurance of over 40 hours.
54 Squadron, who are leading aircrew training for the RAF is based at RAF Waddington, hub of the RAF's ISTAR fleet.
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