The facility, named The Oxspring Building in memory of Group Captain Bobby Oxspring, contains ground control stations, simulators and training areas for the Protector aircraft. Group Captain Oxspring was notably the first to lead an RAF jet flight across the Atlantic in 1949.
Protector is the first remotely piloted aircraft system (RPAS) of its kind capable of operating in all UK airspace classes, offering a long-endurance capability for global missions. It will replace the Reaper platform in 2025, and can operate at altitudes up to 40,000 feet for more than 30 hours.
Air Vice-Marshal Jackson praised the collaborative effort behind the project, stating: “This building has only been made possible through the tenacity and dedication of a team comprising RAF Personnel, civil servants and vendors who have worked together to develop this site into the world class facility you see today, and I thank them for their efforts.”
Operated by 54 Squadron, the Advanced Air ISTAR Academy, the centre will deliver more than 30 multi-skilled courses, including managed training for Protector crews. It also supports wider RAF ISTAR operations, preparing personnel for both current and future platforms.
The building is also home to NATO’s Flight Training Europe (NFTE) campus, a High Visibility Project aimed at strengthening aircrew training across the Alliance. NFTE is delivered by the NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA) and currently includes 17 member nations.
Highlighting NATO collaboration, Mr Allan McLeod, Director of NSPA Life Cycle Management, said: “The opening of this NFTE training facility is a testament to what NATO Nations can achieve when they come together with a shared purpose. By integrating world-class capabilities like Protector into the NFTE framework, we are enabling the future of multinational aircrew training, while increasing availability and readiness across the Alliance.”
Additional testing of the Protector system will continue throughout the summer ahead of its full transition into service. The programme promises to deliver a cutting-edge RPAS solution for the UK, strengthening both national and allied operational readiness.
Source: Royal Air Force (RAF).
