With the completion of a final commemorative flight at RAF Waddington Air Base, the Royal Air Force (RAF) has officially retired its MQ-9 Reaper drones after 18 years of operational service.
Introduced in 2007, the unmanned aerial system accumulated over 173,000 flight hours in operational theaters such as Afghanistan, Iraq, and Syria, where it played a key role in intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, and strike missions. Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Harv Smyth, emphasized that the Reaper was the “backbone” of British operations in the Middle East, highlighting its contribution to the RAF’s expeditionary capability.
The retirement of the Reaper UAVs, operated by No. XIII Squadron RAF until their withdrawal, coincides with the introduction of the new MQ-9B Protector RG Mk1, unveiled weeks ago as the Royal Air Force’s next-generation unmanned system. The Protector has already begun training flights and represents a significant qualitative leap in the UK’s ISR and strike capabilities.
With the closure of the Reaper’s operational era and the beginning of the Protector’s, the RAF ensures continuity in the modernization of its unmanned aerial systems, adapting to new technological and regulatory standards. The Reaper’s legacy remains tied to nearly two decades of combat operations, while the Protector ushers in a new phase characterized by greater range, safety, and operational flexibility thanks to the advanced capabilities of this U.S.-made platform.
In the words of Group Captain Stu McAdam, Officer Commanding No. XIII Squadron: “With great sadness, but with immense pride, I have flown our final mission and retired the MQ-9A Reaper after 18 years of continuous operations. I am extremely proud of the personnel of No. XIII Squadron and the entire supporting Force, and I wish to pay tribute to them and their families for their exceptional contribution to the Defence of the United Kingdom. With the introduction of the MQ-9B Protector, the future is undoubtedly bright for No. XIII Squadron and for the wider Remotely Piloted Air Systems Force; I have every confidence they will continue to deliver operational excellence to the RAF’s ISTAR Force.”
Photos: RAF
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