Protector drone resumes flight tests with Royal Air Force, Following the type’s first UK flight in November 2023, unmanned Protector RG1s, the UK designation for MQ-9B, are now conducting regular flights from their Lincolnshire base. Over the past week, Protector RG1 PR009 has flown two short sorties in airspace around Royal Air Force Waddington the first since the inaugural flight in 2023. The first new flight, taking place on Feb 7 2025, lasted approximately 20 minutes.