The high-fidelity Protector mission trainers developed by CAE will be based on the General Atomics certifiable ground control station. Credit: GA-ASI.

CAE has secured a contract for the development of a comprehensive synthetic training system for the UK’s Protector RG Mk1 remotely piloted aircraft system (RPAS) programme.

The contract awarded by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI) requires CAE to design and develop a training system that will include desktop and high-fidelity mission trainers specific to the Protector RPAS.

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The Protector mission trainers will be based on GA-ASI’s certifiable ground control station (CGCS). They are set to become the first simulators developed for this advanced CGCS.

In addition, CAE will equip the synthetic training system with brief / debrief and scenario generation stations.

CAE Group defence and security president Gene Colabatistto said: “We are pleased to continue our global training partnership with GA-ASI to support the UK Protector programme. Protector will offer a new level of capability in an unmanned air system and will require well-trained aircrews.

“The Protector synthetic training system will play a key role helping the Royal Air Force develop skilled aircrews and we are pleased to collaborate with CAE as our training partner.”

“We will leverage developments we have made over the past several years creating the highest fidelity training devices for the Predator family of remotely piloted aircraft to produce a world-class synthetic training system for the Protector programme.”

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The company intends to make the initial deliveries of the synthetic training system in 2020. The system will be delivered to the Royal Air Force Waddington base, the hub of UK intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance that will serve as the main operating base for the Protector RPAS.

To be operated by the Royal Air Force, the Protector is the UK-specific variant of GA-ASI’s certifiable MQ-9B SkyGuardian RPAS.

GA-ASI aircraft systems president David Alexander said: “MQ-9B SkyGuardian, which Protector is based on, represents the next-generation of remotely piloted aircraft capabilities, including longer endurance and automatic take-off and landing.

“The Protector synthetic training system will play a key role helping the Royal Air Force develop skilled aircrews and we are pleased to collaborate with CAE as our training partner on this critical programme.”