By Garrett Reim2021-07-27T23:08:00+01:00 The UK Royal Air Force (RAF) plans to buy 13 additional Protector RG Mk1 unmanned air vehicles (UAV) from General Atomics Aeronautical Systems. The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) exercised its option to buy the aircraft as part of a prior contract from 2020 in which the RAF bought three examples of the UAV, says General Atomics on 22 July. The 13 additional Protectors, as well as four additional ground control stations and associated support equipment, are worth £195 million ($271 million). Source: General Atomics General Atomics Protector RG Mk1 will focus on intelligence, surveillance, targeting and reconnaissance “Our fleet of 16 Protector aircraft equipped with ultra-modern technology will provide the Royal Air Force with a vast global reach allowing us to monitor and protect the battlespace for hours on end,” says Jeremy Quin, UK minister for defence procurement. “The Protector programme involves industry across the UK with vital parts of the aircraft manufactured on the Isle of Wight, supporting highly-skilled jobs for years to come.”