Saab and General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI) have completed advanced flight testing of an unmanned airborne early-warning capability based on Saab’s LoyalEye radar and GA-ASI’s MQ-9B remotely piloted aircraft system. Conducted from GA-ASI’s Desert Horizon Flight Operations Facility in Southern California, the campaign demonstrated simultaneous long-range tracking of airborne and maritime targets, including instrumented fighter aircraft and commercial airliners.
The radar was carried in external payload pods on a GA-ASI-produced MQ-9B. Saab described the integrated system as capable of detecting, tracking and classifying airborne targets from an unmanned platform during a representative operational scenario.
The testing took place over several months and followed the configuration’s first flight in May 2026, which began the evaluation programme. The capability is intended to provide persistent surveillance, early warning and long-range target tracking while reducing aircrew exposure. It can operate independently or alongside manned airborne early-warning and control aircraft.
The companies have not disclosed detection ranges, sortie numbers, a customer or an intended launch operator. The tests demonstrate technical integration and performance but do not represent an operational deployment, procurement decision or contract award.