Ahead of the arrival of the Protector Remotely Piloted Aircraft System, infrastructure works have begun at RAF Waddington thanks to more than £90 million of investment.
Plans have been in place for a prolonged period of time for Protector, the world’s first certified Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS), to be based at RAF Waddington from 2024 to conduct defence training and drone flights.
The UK has ordered 16 of the Protector RG MK1 drones from American company General Atomics, and they will all be based in Lincolnshire when they are ready to enter service.
The Protector will replace the current Reaper drones and will be capable of being flown anywhere in the world while being operated by personnel at RAF Waddington in Lincolnshire, where it will enter service by mid-2024. | Photo: MoD
The initial work on the site will focus on the upgrade and expansion of the communications infrastructure at the station, which includes enabling the site to be ready for the new Protector Force.
The upgrades will include a high-capacity fibre optic communications ring to benefit all squadrons, as well as the Air Space Warfare Centre and the incoming Red Arrows, which will make RAF Waddington their home at the end of 2022.
The SkyGuardian drone ready to operate from RAF Waddington, ahead of the permanent arrival of 16 Protector drones in 2024. | Photo: GA-ASI
In September 2021, the Secretary of State for Defence, Ben Wallace MP, announced RAF Waddington would benefit from a £94 million investment for infrastructure improvements, to support the capability of the Protector drone, which enters service in 2024.
The station has been preparing for the arrival of the Protector RPAS for a while now, having previously hosted a SkyGuardian drone, very similar to the Protector, to demonstrate the capability to perform operations from the base.
Station Commander at RAF Waddington, Mark Lorriman-Hughes. | Photo: Crown Copyright
RAF Waddington’s Station Commander, Group Captain Mark Lorriman-Hughes, said: “The enhanced communications infrastructure is an important stage in the preparations for Protector and the Next Generation Air Force.
“This is the start of a significant investment programme that will see the Ministry of Defence upgrade many of the key facilities here at RAF Waddington.
“Enhancing our ability to capture, analyse and distribute data, paving the way for us to safely operate the Protector Air System, further fortifying RAF Waddington’s place as the UK’s ISTAR (Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance) hub.”
The plans haven’t seen plain sailing, though, with protestors gathering outside RAF Waddington in August last year to say no to experimental US drone flights over UK airbases.
Protestors gathered outside RAF Waddington to oppose the planned US drone flights.
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A family-run jewellers with more than 50 years’ experience is relocating from Newark to open in Lincoln’s Cornhill Quarter next week.
Smiths The Jewellers was based on Balderton Gate in Newark for 18 years, but it will now move into the unit previously occupied by Oxfam at 26-27 Sincil Street.
The new shop will open at 10am on Saturday, June 4 and the business has collaborated with Chambers Florists, also of the Cornhill Quarter, to do a jubilee themed window display.
Smiths The Jewellers is a traditional family-run business selling a wide range of jewellery, both new and pre-owned, as well as buying unwanted and broken jewellery. The shop will also offer services such as repairs, alterations and valuations.
The four employees will move over to the new shop and two new jobs have also been created.
Business owner Sonya Smith is the third generation of a family of jewellers and she told The Lincolnite: “We had some amazing customers in Newark, and also who travelled from Lincoln. We are excited to be opening in Lincoln.
“The Cornhill Quarter is vibrant and such a nice place to be and will allow us to expand. We are a great family business with a lot of loyal followers.”
The trial of a Skegness woman who denies causing the death of Nottingham Trent University student Hope Starsmore by dangerous driving has been put back until next year.
Rebecca Porter, 33, of Cottesmore Close, Skegness, was due to go on trial at Lincoln Crown Court on June 27. Her trial was expected to last four days.
However a pre-trial hearing at Lincoln Crown Court was today (Friday) told more time is needed to gather evidence from expert witnesses.
Judge Catarina Sjolin Knight told Ms Porter her trial would now be listed at Lincoln Crown Court on April 17 next year.
Granting Ms Porter unconditional bail Judge Sjolin Knight explained to her: “Unfortunately there is very little realistic prospect of this trial being ready for June 27.
“I know that is difficult for you. I am sure it is also difficult for the family of the lady who was killed.”
At a previous hearing in October last year Porter pleaded not guilty to causing the death of Ms Starsmore on October 7, 2020 by dangerous driving on the A158 at Burgh le Marsh, near Skegness.
Ms Starsmore was rushed to hospital after a collision in Skegness Road, Burgh le Marsh, at around 8.15am on Wednesday, October 7.
Despite multiple operations, doctors were unable to save her and she died eight days after the crash.
Ms Starsmore had just started a course in medical science at Nottingham Trent University and wanted to become a paramedic.
Due to coronavirus, she had decided to live at home in Skegness and study. She also opted to commute to Nottingham once a week.
She was airlifted to Hull Royal Infirmary after the crash and placed in a medically-induced coma.
Her brother and her partner had been travelling with her on their way to Nottingham Trent University and received minor injuries.
Despite having moved to the Lincolnshire seaside, Hope had grown up in Corby, Northamptonshire.
Porter will next appear at Lincoln Crown Court on June 27 for a further pre-trial hearing.
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