Protector deliveries yet to be finalised as IOC looms
As development of the MQ-9B SkyGuardian continues with General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA‑ASI) announcing the first SATCOM taxi of the system, the timeline for first deliveries of the UK's MQ-9B Protector variant remains uncertain.
In a statement to Shephard the UK MoD said that detailed delivery schedules 'have not yet been finalised' but that sufficient deliveries to achieve initial operating capability were still expected to be achieved 'in the early 2020s'.
At the time of the contract award in 2016 to GA-ASI it was stipulated that deliveries could begin in late 2018.
The company has been under direct contract with the
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