**Cologne, Germany** — U.S.-based drone maker **General Atomics** has received a significant safety certification from British aviation authorities for its **Protector drone**. This certification allows the unmanned aircraft to operate routinely over civilian areas, marking a crucial step in its operational capabilities.
The certification, referred to as a **Military Type Certificate**, indicates that the **Royal Air Force’s Protector RG Mk1** (also known as **MQ-9B**) has successfully completed a stringent airworthiness assessment, according to a statement from General Atomics. This achievement permits the drones to operate “without geographic restrictions, including over populous areas.”
This milestone has been anticipated by General Atomics, which has highlighted the drone’s ability to safely navigate civilian airspace as a key aspect of its business strategy in Europe. Typically, military drones are restricted to designated protected corridors when over land, particularly in densely populated regions of Europe, due to their traditional military design that often lacks fail-safe propulsion or collision avoidance features.
The **April 29** decision from the UK Military Aviation Authority is described by General Atomics as a “first-of-its-kind milestone for a large, unmanned aircraft system.” It is viewed as a substantial achievement for the UK and a significant development in the evolution of unmanned aircraft systems.
The certification is fundamentally based on a NATO standard known as **STANAG 4671**, which ensures that drone airworthiness recognized under these specifications can be accepted across NATO member nations.
**Linden Blue**, CEO of General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, disclosed that the company has invested **$500 million over 11 years** to achieve the certification for the **MQ-9B** to meet NATO safety standards.
In addition to the British Royal Air Force, General Atomics has received orders for the MQ-9B from several countries, including **Belgium, Canada, Poland, the Japan Coast Guard, the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, Taiwan**, and **India**.
**Sebastian Sprenger** is the associate editor for Europe at **Defense News**, where he covers the defense market in the region and U.S.-Europe defense cooperation. He is based in Cologne, Germany.
