Sqn Ldr Luke Goldsworthy RAF receiving his Award from HRH The Princess Royal, at the Engineers Trust Awards Dinner on 9 June 2026

Squadron Leader Luke Goldsworthy RAF

Squadron Leader Goldsworthy has made an extraordinary and enduring contribution to the Royal Air Force through his leadership, engineering judgement and technical mastery in the development and assurance of the Protector RG Mk1 remotely piloted air system (RPAS). As a 56 Squadron Flight Test Engineer, he delivered two of the most significant test events in the Protector Programme’s history: Exercise Prevalent Longshot which executed the first UK carriage and release of the Paveway IV laser-guided munition from Protector and Exercise Prevalent Evolve which validated the air system’s current software revision standard and enabled safe progression toward front line employment. Across both, his engineering professionalism has directly shaped Protector’s airworthiness, capability and operational path, marking him as one of the programme’s most influential engineer officers.

Prevalent Longshot stands as a landmark moment for the RAF RPAS enterprise and Goldsworthy was at its centre from conception to execution. Working under extreme time pressure, he planned, led and authored the trial, designed to generate evidence for a declaration confirming the safe and discriminate employment of Paveway IV from Protector in accordance with the Geneva Convention. Longshot began as a simple demonstration to mitigate delays in the parallel US-based test programme but quickly expanded into a strategically vital UK-led assurance effort. Against this backdrop, Goldsworthy delivered with composure, technical rigour and an unwavering commitment to airworthiness.

The trial involved Protector’s first releases of both inert and live Paveway IV weapons within UK airspace – an endeavour complicated by limited instrumentation, winter weather, a compressed engineering timeline and the requirement to secure two Air Weapon Ranges across multiple months. Across repeated cancellations due to icing, changing airspace windows and evolving engineering constraints, he ensured the programme remained safe, credible and operationally relevant. He personally orchestrated the end-to-end test flow: weapon loading (including risk acceptance for non-standard ground procedures), aircraft configuration, chase aircraft and small UAS for data capture, sensor setup and real time engineering risk management during flight.

His authority as Trial Supervisor was central to navigating two major deficiencies uncovered during live drops, including the absence of a critical data file resulting in the requirement for manual release – an unacceptable condition for operations. Through measured judgement, he enabled safe test execution while preserving the integrity of Protector’s safety case and his recommendations now underpin future processes for ensuring correct data file loading prior to any operational weapon employment. His work also identified specific tactical considerations when using laser guidance, shaping the development of future tactics, techniques and procedures (TTPs).

The trial concluded with successful detonations of live weapons on target at Cape Wrath, proving Protector’s ability to safely release, guide and arm Paveway IV across multiple modes. This achievement delivered the engineering evidence required for a positive assessment and represents a generational step in RAF remotely-piloted strike capability. That this was achieved at all – and achieved safely – was due in large part to Goldsworthy’s leadership, detailed planning and technical acumen.

In parallel, he acted as Principal Author and engineering lead for Prevalent Evolve, the trial assessing Protector’s Revision ‘E’ software build. This update was the most significant to date, introducing new capabilities, resolving long standing Issues and unlocking critical functionality for the front line. Under considerable pressure to accelerate Revision ‘E’ for operational use, he designed and executed a mission representative regression profile across ground and flight test phases, ensuring that every assessed function was scrutinised with the precision expected of a Royal Air Force engineer officer. His analysis identified and confirmed the resolution of high-priority issues. He also discovered numerous new deficiencies, including autopilot overshoot behaviour, Traffic Collision Avoidance System (TCAS) reversion, mission planning waypoint instability, sensor stick control inaccuracies, and outside air temperature (OAT) data errors with direct implications for weapon employment speeds. In each case, his findings were presented with clarity, engineering rationale and actionable recommendations, now forming part of the programme’s modification and safety roadmap toward Initial Operating Capability. Through Evolve, he provided the confidence necessary to release Revision ‘E’ for front line operation, enabling front line and training squadrons to progress with Protector’s early operational capability and laying the groundwork for future weapons, sensor and datalink testing.

Across both trials, Goldsworthy demonstrated engineering judgement of the highest calibre. He repeatedly made decisions that balanced competing demands of safety, evidence generation, programme imperatives and operational need – often under conditions of ambiguity, time pressure and technical constraint. His calm authority and collaborative leadership ensured coherence between industry partners, Defence Equipment & Support, weapon range authorities, aircrew and engineering teams. As trial lead, he was the focal point for risk management, evidence assurance and technical interpretation, enabling the Royal Air Force to progress Protector capability at pace without compromising safety. His influence extends beyond the trials themselves. His work has materially improved Protector reliability, airworthiness understanding, materiel availability projections and future operating procedures. His recommendations now inform programme sequencing, front line TTP development and software modification planning. Protector – a strategically vital Intelligence, Surveillance, Targeting, and Reconnaissance (ISTAR) and precision strike asset for the next generation – will enter service safer, more effective and better understood because of his contributions. Throughout, Squadron Leader Goldsworthy exemplified the highest standards of Royal Air Force engineering professionalism. As a Chartered Engineer, he brought disciplined analytical reasoning, meticulous evidence-based judgement and a deep commitment to safe capability delivery. Within 56 Squadron, he has become a role model for junior test practitioners and a trusted voice for commanders and programme stakeholders. His achievements represent engineering excellence of the rarest kind: impactful at the tactical level, decisive at the operational level and transformative at the strategic level. His leadership and engineering intellect have directly shaped one of the Royal Air Force’s most important capability programmes.

The Worshipful Company of Engineers, through its charitable arm the Engineers Trust, is honoured to recognise outstanding performance and leadership across all branches of the Armed Forces and their civilian engineering support teams. Awards were presented by HRH The Princess Royal at the Company’s Awards Dinner on 9th June 2026.

The Worshipful Company of Engineers Charitable Trust (the Engineers Trust) promotes the contributions of engineers to benefit society, education and research, and the relief of hardship and poverty.

Award photo courtesy of Mark Witter Photography