This milestone, achieved on 29 April, marks the first time a large unmanned aircraft system has been awarded such certification. It is a significant achievement for the UK and represents a groundbreaking moment in the development of unmanned aircraft systems. General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI) is the first manufacturer of large, unmanned aircraft to receive an MTC based on adherence to STANAG 4671, the NATO standard for airworthiness.
GA-ASI has pursued this certification since the MQ-9B’s inception in January 2014. The company built on its established MQ-9A platform, introducing numerous performance improvements to ensure compliance with NATO’s STANAG 4671 Edition 2 requirements. These advancements include lightning protection, fire protection, anti-icing systems, and a robust building block design to withstand fatigue and damage. All flight-critical software was developed in strict alignment with Do-178/254 standards, with mission software distinctly separated from flight-critical systems.
Linden Blue, CEO of GA-ASI, hailed the certification as a monumental success for the company. He stated, “Earning an MTC for MQ-9B was a herculean effort and a seminal achievement for our company. We invested over $500 million as part of an 11-year effort to develop an unmanned aircraft that meets NATO’s rigorous airworthiness standards.” He also praised the dedication of his team, highlighting their creation of over 140,000 pages of technical documentation and extensive testing.
The certification process included comprehensive environmental testing, static and dynamic load tests, and extensive simulations to verify performance under a range of conditions. Blue emphasized the significance of this achievement for customers, noting that the type certification will facilitate access to civil airspace for the MQ-9B.
The Royal Air Force has so far received 10 of the 16 Protector aircraft ordered, with deliveries continuing at RAF Waddington in the North of England. Gp. Capt. Neil Venables, the Type Airworthiness Authority, expressed his pride in the achievement, saying, “Achieving the award of a first in class Military Type Certificate has required years of dedication and perseverance and is a testament to the hard work of all involved. It is a privilege to be the first to be awarded an MTC for the Protector Air System.”
The MQ-9B is recognised as the most advanced medium-altitude, long-endurance uncrewed aerial system (UAS) available. Alongside the RAF’s Protector, the MQ-9B family includes the SkyGuardian and SeaGuardian® models. International customers for the MQ-9B include Belgium, Canada, Poland, Japan Coast Guard, Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, Taiwan, India, and the United States Air Force. The aircraft has also supported various U.S. Navy exercises, showcasing its operational flexibility and reliability.
