General Atomics Aeronautical Systems and Saab have completed the first flight of an MQ-9B equipped with Saab airborne early warning pods, according to the companies. The validation flight took place on May 19 at GA-ASI’s Desert Horizon flight operations facility in Southern California.
The aircraft used Saab’s LoyalEye sensor package on the MQ-9B unmanned platform as part of a test program aimed at extending airborne early warning and control capabilities to a remotely piloted aircraft. The companies said the effort is intended to support long-endurance surveillance, long-range detection and tracking, and simultaneous tracking of multiple targets.
GA-ASI and Saab said the flight begins a test and evaluation phase that will continue for several months, with a full-capability demonstration planned later in 2026. The system is designed to operate beyond line of sight and through satellite communications, and it is being positioned as a lower-cost complement to larger manned airborne warning aircraft.