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Number 06493, 8 October 2015 18 
announced in early October 2015. The Prime Minister said it will have 
greater range and endurance than Reaper but other than that provided 
few details. The head of unmanned air systems at the MOD has 
suggested it will be an upgrade to the current Reaper (block 1) fleet but 
a Main Gate decision is not expected until March 2016.61 General 
Atomics, which makes Reaper, are currently producing aircraft in a 
Block 5 configuration. It is also developing a certifiable variant of the 
Predator B (which was the original name of the MQ-9 Reaper) with an 
integrated sense and avoid system and an extended range, with a view 
to it be certified for flight in European airspace.  
EU and NATO developments 
Both the EU and NATO have identified a gap in allies and members 
RPAS capabilities, particularly the medium and high altitude aircraft 
systems that provide intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance. 
EU leaders identified RPAS as a key military capability at the December 
2013 summit. The European Defence Agency is currently working on 
the production of technical documents to inform those member states 
interested in developing a medium-altitude, long-endurance (MALE) 
system. The present assumption is such a system will have an in-service 
date between 2020 and 2025.62 The UK is not involved in the 
development of a European Male RPAS.63 
The UK is not directly involved in a NATO effort to acquire a high 
altitude, long endurance RPAS (HALE) to provide wide-area terrestrial 
and maritime surveillance. 15 NATO allies are procuring five Global 
Hawk remotely piloted aircraft which will be operated and maintained 
by NATO on behalf of all 28 allies. This is called the Alliance Ground 
Surveillance (AGS) system and is expected to become available for 
operational deployment from 2017. The main operating base for the 
AGS system will be located at Sigonella Air Base in Italy, alongside the 
US Air Force Global Hawk fleet.64  
All allies will contribute to the development of the AGS capability 
through financial contributions, although the UK will contribute ‘in kind’ 
by making available Sentinel, a manned surveillance aircraft. Sentinel’s 
service life has been extended until 2018.65 The Government said in 
2012 it was not joining the consortium acquiring AGS because the UK’s 
requirements for airborne surveillance are met mainly by Sentinel.66 
 
                                                                                             
61  “MOD reveals Reaper derivative will be chosen for Protector”, Flight International, 7 
October 2015 
62  More information on this can be found on the European Defence Agency website; in 
the European Council 19/20 December 2013 conclusions, EUCO 217/13; and 
“Defence Ministers Commit to Capability Programmes”, European Defence Agency 
news, 19 November 2013; Report by the Head of the European Defence Agency to 
the Council, November 2014, 36526 
63  See explanatory memorandum on European Council document Report by the Head 
of the European Defence Agency to the Council, November 2014, EM 36526 
64  Further information on AGS is available on the NATO website and Northrop 
Grumman website. 
65  PQ 206091, 1 September 2014 
66  HC Deb 11 June 2012 c106W