Royal Air Force begins training instructors on Protector UAV simulator in the US
Personnel from the RAF's 54 Squadron are currently undertaking the first Instructor Operating Course (IOC) on Protector simulators at the General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI) Flight Test & Training Center in Grand Forks, North Dakota.
The Royal Air Force (RAF) has initiated the first Instructor Operating Course (IOC) to train personnel on Protector UAV simulators at General Atomics Aeronautical Systems' Flight Test & Training Center in North Dakota, USA. Crews from the RAF's 54 Squadron, consisting of pilots, sensor operators, and mission intelligence controllers, are being trained to operate the Protector RG1, a variant of the RQ-9B SkyGuardian. The program aims to replace the RAF's existing MQ-9As with the advanced MQ-9B by 2026, offering enhanced surveillance and precision strike capabilities. The course aims to develop RAF-specific training materials and scenarios, and it serves as a precursor to the planned International Training Centre at RAF Waddington in Lincolnshire, which will be a hub for synthetic training in partnership with CAE.