In an effort to meet newer, more demanding NATO and American FAA regulations for airworthiness standards in civil airspaces around the globe, General Atomics is developing an offshoot of its hugely successful MQ-9 "Predator B" Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) as the MQ-9B "Protector". The type features upgrades at both the software and hardware levels to better serve in various global environments while also being protected against natural dangers such as bird strikes, icing, and lightning. Britain's Royal Air Force (RAF) has committed to the type and the service expects to receive its first units before the end of 2018 with type certification expected between 2021 and 2022 (civil airspace certification will arrive later). This certification will allow the air vehicle to legally fly over population centers with the intended goal of monitoring and coordinating disaster responses and the like.

The Protector maintains the Predator's proven form and function, the sleek fuselage housing the primary avionics suite, optics fit, and powerplant. The wings are straight monoplanes with winglets at the tips. An optics package is positioned in a trainable blister pack under the chin. A Y-shaped tailplane arrangement is used that features a pair of outward-cranked fins and a single downward-cranked plane. The undercarriage sports three thin legs, all wheeled. At the rear of the aircraft is a three-bladed propeller unit arranged in "pusher" fashion.

The Protector is to have a maximum speed of 210 knots with a mission endurance window of some forty hours and a total product life of 40,000 hours. Operational ceilings will reach 40,000 feet. Supported systems are set to include the Raytheon MTS-B Electro-Optical / InfraRed (EO/IR) sensor fit, the GA-ASI "Lynx" multi-mode mission radar, and a true sense-and-avoid / all-weather functionality. Mission payloads will be modular to allow customers to append the product as needed.

The MQ-9B platform is also forming the basis for the armed "SkyGuardian" Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle (UCAV) which will feature support for precision-based guided munitions. Similarly, the "SeaGuardian" is being developed as a multi-mission maritime patroller with surface-search radar to meet the demands of over-water sorties in both the military and civilian spheres.

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