British Army Decommissions MQ-9 Reaper, Replaced with Something More Terrifying

The United Kingdom has officially retired its fleet of General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) MQ-9A Reaper unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) after nearly two decades of operational deployment.

This transition marks a significant step forward in the Royal Air Force (RAF)'s drone capabilities, moving to GA-ASI's more advanced MQ-9B Protector RG1 drone.

The last of the 10 Reaper UAVs was decommissioned on 30 September. The Protector UAVs are now being integrated into RAF operations, specifically for intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance (ISTAR) missions, in addition to strike capabilities.

The MQ-9B Protector RG1 has several improvements over its predecessor, playing an important role in modern warfare .

First is increased payload capacity: the Protector can carry a larger weapons load, possessing nine weapons hardpoints compared to the Reaper's five.

Both UAVs can carry multiple Lockheed Martin AGM-114 Hellfire air-to-ground missiles and RTX GBU-12 Paveway IV 500 lb precision-guided bombs. Notably, the Protector is also equipped to deploy MBDA Brimstone 3A missiles, enhancing its strike capabilities.

The Reaper retirement comes shortly after the Royal Air Force (RAF) announced it was preparing to deploy the Protector in Operation Shader, the UK's ongoing campaign against the remnants of the self-proclaimed Islamic State (IS) group in Iraq and Syria.

This operational readiness underlines the UK's commitment to maintaining an effective air presence in areas where asymmetric threats persist.

The UK’s strategy is increasingly turning to advanced UAV technology to address growing security challenges. The enhanced capabilities of the Protector UAV not only improve the operational effectiveness of the Royal Air Force (RAF), but also align with wider defence objectives focused on adaptability and modernisation of air platforms.

As the Royal Air Force (RAF) integrates Protector into its operational framework, monitoring its performance and impact on both current and future missions will be critical.