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# RAF's Protector drone enters service as Britain's first such aircraft
- URL: https://sovereigntymonitor.eu/news/2025-06-16-uk-protector-drone-raf-service-entry/
- Published: 2025-06-16T12:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-21T04:03:11.000Z
- Description: The Royal Air Force's Protector RG Mk1, Britain's first remotely piloted aircraft cleared for UK airspace, formally entered service with four aircraft flying from RAF Waddington.
- Author: Reidar Balstad
- Tags: Defence and space, #news, #reported, #editor-read

Reported Editor-read [Defence Industry Europe, 16 June 2025](https://defence-industry.eu/protector-rg-mk1-enters-service-as-royal-air-forces-first-remotely-piloted-aircraft/?ref=sovereigntymonitor.eu)

**What it does not test.** It does not confirm Full Operational Capability, which the RAF targets for 2026 once its planned 16 aircraft fleet is complete.

**How this item counts.** This item is dated before the index starts on 1 January 2026, so it does not count in the [European Sovereignty Index](https://sovereigntymonitor.eu/sovereignty-index/).

**How this item was made.** Drafted by an AI system (Claude (Anthropic)) from the source cited above; read and approved by the editor on 2026-10-20\. [How the record is made](https://sovereigntymonitor.eu/method/#how-the-record-is-made)