Boeing MQ-25A refueller, GA-ASI MQ-9B AEW platforms mark milestones
GA-ASI, in partnership with Saab, flew its MQ-9B Remotely Piloted Aircraft for the first time with LayalEye Airborne Early Warning (AEW) pods in May 2026. (General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc)
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc (GA-ASI) and Boeing both announced major development milestones this week regarding unmanned aerial systems (UAS): GA-ASI's for a new airborne early warning (AEW) capability and Boeing to begin producing carrier-based aerial refuellers.
LoyalEye
GA-ASI announced on 21 May the completion of a flight test, in partnership with Saab, that flew GA-ASI's MQ-9B remotely piloted aircraft with Saab's LoyalEye AEW sensors aboard.
The validation flight was conducted on May 19 from GA-ASI's Desert Horizon flight operations facility in Southern California, marking the start of what Saab called a “several-month test evaluation phase”.
A full-capability demonstration is planned for later in the 2026 calendar year.
GA-ASI President David R Alexander said in a statement that, AEW for MQ-9B would offer “sensing to defend against tactical air munitions, guided missiles, drones, fighter and bomber aircraft, and other threats”.
Saab said the partnership, which was first announced in 2025, would support applications such as “early detection and warning, long-range detection and tracking, and the simultaneous tracking of multiple targets”, operating beyond line of sight and via satellite communication (SATCOM) connectivity.
MQ-25A
Elsewhere, the Boeing MQ-25A Stingray received ‘Milestone C' Approval to move into low-rate initial production (LRIP), the US Navy announced on 19 May. Acting Secretary of the Navy Hung Cao announced the milestone following the completion of a Boeing flight test in April 2026.
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