General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. (GA-ASI) has been awarded $77 million for the United Kingdom MQ-9B Protector program.
This contract modification provides for the design, development, integration, and component level testing of additional capabilities being added to the baseline program.
Work is expected to be completed by December 31, 2023.
In July 2020, the UK Ministry of Defence signed a £65 million contract for initial 3 Protector aircraft with option to purchase 13 more. UK and Belgium sign a Bilateral Statement of Intent to collaborate on their MQ-9B programmes in the following month.
The first Protector is expected to join the Royal Air Force (RAF) in 2024.