Air Platform Integration – PROTECTOR Programme

Challenge

The PROTECTOR Programme was set to deliver a future UK capability for deep and persistent armed aerial Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) up to 2038. However, a programme audit identified a significant gap: the absence of a robust architecture to guide and support the programme. To address this, an architecture team was established to ensure alignment with business and strategic goals and to create comprehensive architecture views.

Solution

ASU deployed an Enterprise and Business Architect to create the PROTECTOR architecture within the Defence Digital Solution Architecture repository. A unified approach was adopted to maximise the reuse and scalability of architectural elements developed by the PROTECTOR and wider Defence Digital teams.

ASU engaged extensively with 31 Squadron RAF (PROTECTOR), Defence Digital, RAF Digital, and stakeholders from 13 Squadron RAF (REAPER Squadron), to create a baseline of capabilities, processes, and resources for potential reuse.

Through a series of targeted workshops and detailed document analyses, ASU produced a high-level design, which included:

• Motivation views, value chains, and mission threads to articulate the intended operational use of PROTECTOR.
• Capability and functional views supporting 31 Squadron’s operational requirements.
• Comprehensive gap analysis.

Outcome

The primary deliverable was an extensive Architectural Overview, which clarified:

• ISR data dissemination methods across multiple systems in near real-time.
• Functional and non-functional requirements for metadata tagging solutions.
• Cross-boundary protection strategies.
• Architectures for telemetry communications between aerial vehicles and control stations.

This high-level architecture enabled stakeholders to clearly visualise information flows, identify shortfalls, and streamline data dissemination. It also informed essential programme changes, minimising potential impacts by providing robust architectural evidence to support the Formal Change Request (FCR) process.

The resulting architecture gave RAF Digital an accurate "as-is" overview, identified critical gaps, and presented multiple options for a future state architecture optimising RAF’s utilisation of PROTECTOR. Ultimately, ASU’s work guided strategic decision-making, driving cost-effective solutions without compromising capability or security.