GA-ASI, Saab trial MQ-9B-LoyalEye combo in operational scenario

The GA-ASI MQ-9B UAS seen carrying the Saab LoyalEye AEW&C radar during operationally-relevant trials. (General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc.)

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc (GA-ASI) and Saab have trialled the use of the MQ-9B unmanned aircraft system (UAS) with the LoyalEye airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) radar in an operationally representative scenario.

Announced by the companies on 28 October 2026, the trial was conducted during a flight at GA-ASI's Desert Horizon Flight Operations Facility in southern California as part of a wider flight trials campaign that was launched in May 2026.

According to the announcement, the event validated the performance of the integrated system, including its ability to detect, track, and classify airborne targets from an unmanned platform in real time within a representative operational scenario.

“This flight test marks an important milestone in the development of unmanned airborne early warning capabilities. LoyalEye is designed to complement existing AEW&C solutions by providing additional flexibility and persistence, and today's flight validates the capability in a representative operational scenario”, head of Saab's Surveillance business area, Carl-Johan Bergholm, said.

“This has been one of the most highly anticipated flight tests we have performed,” GA-ASI President David R. Alexander said. “The level of customer interest in AEW capability on MQ-9B throughout the world is extremely high. It just makes sense.”

Known as the SkyGuardian in its overland role and as the SeaGuardian in its maritime role (and as Protector RG1 for the UK specifically), the MQ-9B has a maximum endurance of more than 40 hours, making it well suited for the AEW&C role where persistence is key.

For more, please see Boeing MQ-25A refueller, GA-ASI MQ-9B AEW platforms mark milestones