UK to double armed drone fleet in deal for US-made 'Protector'

Britain is to double its fleet of armed drones, agreeing a $127m deal for a new generation of US-made aircraft for the Royal Air Force, the government announced on Sunday.

The defence secretary, Michael Fallon, said the government planned to arm the new Protector drones with advanced Brimstone missiles and Paveway laser-guided bombs.

Fallon's ministry said the aircraft is being developed by the US firm General Atomics, which manufactures the Reaper drone at present in use in the US and UK air forces.

The UK currently has 10 Reapers in service, which the Protectors are scheduled to replace in 2021.

"Britain faces ever-evolving threats and we must look at innovative solutions to stay ahead of our enemies," Fallon said.

"Doubling investment in our unmanned air fleet will substantially enhance both the intelligence gathering and firepower of the RAF.

"The UK’s security partnership with the US is the deepest and most advanced of any two nations on earth.

"This programme is part of a further strengthening which will help keep Britain safe and secure."

The UK has used its fleet of armed drones against the Islamic State group in Iraq and Syria. 

The government authorised an unprecedented strike in September last year that killed two British IS members, despite having no parliamentary remit to launch attacks in the territory of a non-belligerent nation.

David Cameron, the then prime minister, defended the decision to target Reyaad Khan, 21, and Ruhul Amin, 26, on the basis they were an imminent threat to national security.

Amnesty International condemned the attack, saying it was "extremely alarming that the UK has apparently been conducting summary executions from the air".

Four months later and after a parliamentary vote, the RAF began flying manned and unmanned missions over Syria as part of the US-led anti-IS coalition, but recorded only 33 successful strikes in the first three months of action.

According to Janes, the British government announced initial plans in April to buy up to 20 of the new drones in a $528m programme lasting seven years. 

The defence ministry said the Protector "will offer improved range and endurance, greater weapons capacity, automated take-off and landing and better resilience against the elements". 

Janes said Protector has a maximum endurance of more than 40 hours compared with the Reaper's 27 hours, but a lower top speed and altitude - suggesting the UK is prioritising increased endurance and persistence in future operations.

The use of British-made Brimstone missiles would significantly increase the firepower of the new drones. Predators and Reapers currently carry the inferior "Hellfire" missile.

Fallon made the announcement at the annual Reagan National Defence Forum in California.