RAF Protector Makes First European Transit

A Royal Air Force Protector aircraft has made history this week as it flew directly from RAF Waddington to RAF Akrotiri, its first transit through European civilian airspace.

Protector RG Mk1 PR008 flew more than 2,000 nautical miles through the airspace of France, Italy, Malta, and Greece, with the journey taking around 13.5 hours.

While earlier remotely piloted aircraft such as Reaper supported operations overseas, they were unable to operate routinely in civilian controlled airspace and relied on restricted routes or alternative means to reach theatre. Protector has been designed from the outset to meet the standards required for civil airspace operations, allowing it to fly alongside crewed aircraft under normal air traffic control procedures.

The flight marks a significant milestone for the RAF. It demonstrates Protector’s increased flexibility and reach, and its ability to deploy more efficiently in support of UK and allied operations to deliver intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance where it is needed.