13 September 2021. Following on from the announcement on Thur 9 Sep that RAF Waddington has been selected as the home of the Protector International Training Centre, Inzpire Limited (Inzpire), Meta Mission Data Limited (MMD) and Eagle Eye Innovations (EEI) have revealed that they are teaming to offer training services to the UK Protector programme and International MQ-9B training requirement.
The three companies have joined forces to demonstrate how they can extend their current training support to UK Reaper into the rapidly expanding MQ-9B programme and International Training Centre at RAF Waddington. The focus will be on providing flexible and assured training services, across all mission crew requirements, using deeply experienced UK instructors from a Lincolnshire-based team.
EEI, MMD and Inzpire are all distinguished by the skill, knowledge and ethos of their ex-military personnel, specifically in Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS) operations and training.
Individually, all three companies have extensive recent experience in supporting the UK MoD through the provision of embedded teams to the UK MQ-9 capability. The team’s personnel have worked hand-in-hand alongside military personnel for several years to deliver front-line synthetic and advanced live flying training in support of the UK Reaper Whole Force.
Inzpire, MMD and EEI also have a proven history of supporting overseas military and commercial customers, providing training in RPAS operations, ISR, intelligence and electronic warfare as well as security services.
The team brings together vast expertise plus a wide spectrum of UK RPAS training experience and qualifications, which offers both strength and depth to the national and international elements of the Protector programme.
Vast Sovereign RPAS Experience
In addition to supporting the MQ-9 Qualified Weapons Instructor Course, Inzpire has provided live flying training to the UK Apache Force and a White Force which has been at the forefront of live and synthetic team and collective training across air, maritime and land domains for over a decade. Inzpire’s collective training experts have designed and delivered realistic and immersive training experiences for both British and international armed forces, and in 2019 was awarded the Defence Operational Training Capability (Air) (DOTC(A)) Interim White Force contract to support the transition from the Defence Synthetic Air-Land Training (DSALT) programme over a 42-month period.
MMD has been providing live airborne ISR and Close Air Support training services to the British Army in Kenya for over 10 years. Their qualified Joint Terminal Attack Controllers, Sensor Operators and Ground Liaison Officers are highly experienced in the emulation and integration of the full range of UK ISR capabilities into the battlespace, including RPAS and UAVs. Since 2019, MMD has been contracted by the MoD to deliver synthetic training into the Reaper Force at RAF Waddington, including multi-domain C2 expertise into White Forces and programme coordination and project management. MMD is currently contracted by GA-ASI to assist with business and capability development for Protector in the maritime role.
EEI is a trusted partner of the RAF MQ-9 Force, providing STANEVAL assured Combat Ready equivalent Pilot, Sensor Operator, and Mission Intelligence Coordinator (MIC) Instructors, White Force, and Simulator Controllers to support front line operations and Force growth as it transitions from Reaper to Protector. Their high-quality, British, ex-Reaper force operators and instructors have designed, developed, and delivered high-end, bespoke RPAS training to support the RAF and other customers which aligns to DSAT standards, recognised globally as the gold standard of training. Additionally, EEI expertise includes RPAS support services such as Operations Specialists and Schedulers, who bring extensive experience from MQ-9 Reaper giving us a unique understanding of the complexities to support RPAS operations globally.
This deep experience and combined proven pedigree mean the Inzpire, MMD and EEI team are ideally placed to continue their support as the MoD enter a new and exciting phase of development within the Protector programme.
Quotes
Sophie Paul, head of Inzpire’s Intelligence, ISR and Cyber Operational Business Unit, said: “With MMD, EEI and Inzpire on board, we have brought together the UK companies with high-quality, proven and trusted MQ-9 expertise at a scale probably unrivalled by any other UK company.
“Our team is honoured to bring these outstanding skills, qualities and rich domain backgrounds together with our tacit understanding of customer needs, such that we can serve the UK Protector Programme in the future with a deeply experienced, trusted and proven training capability. If that also means we may be able to support overseas partners of MoD, even better. Inzpire already trains militaries and governments around the world in such skills, so to bring the two together, here in the UK is exciting and feels like a natural fit”.
Alex Kasperczyk, Director of Business Development at EEI said: “We are honoured to be teaming with Inzpire and MMD to bring together unrivalled RPAS skillsets in order to support the current and future growth of MoD capability.
“RPAS training is right at the core of EEI, having supported customers globally in realising the benefits of this exciting, emerging technology since 2013. As a UK-based company, we are passionate about supporting the RAF as they pave the way for future RPAS integration and operations alongside traditional aviation”.
Chris Jones, Managing Director of MMD commented that: “The UK Protector programme and international sales of the MQ-9B create a game changing opportunity for global Armed Forces to collaborate in RPAS training.
“The expertise and training pedigree within this team can help partner nations turn new and exciting RPAS ISR concepts into networked capabilities that will transform multi-domain operations. The power of the MQ-9B can only be released through effective training, and MMD is delighted to be working alongside our team mates at Inzpire and EEI to offer proven and trusted services to the UK MoD and its prime suppliers”.
