General Atomics Aeronautical Systems and Saab have completed advanced flight testing of a LoyalEye airborne early-warning radar integrated with an MQ-9B remotely piloted aircraft system. Conducted from GA-ASI’s Desert Horizon Flight Operations Facility in Southern California, the trials demonstrated simultaneous long-range tracking of airborne and maritime targets, including instrumented fighter aircraft representing adversary forces and commercial aircraft.
The radar was carried in external payload pods on the MQ-9B. The integrated system also detected, tracked and classified airborne targets during a representative operational scenario, demonstrating an unmanned platform’s ability to perform early-warning missions without exposing aircrews to the risks of crewed AEW&C operations.
The evaluation programme began with the configuration’s first flight in May 2026 and continued over several months. The proposed capability is intended to provide persistent surveillance either independently or alongside manned AEW&C aircraft, extending coverage while allowing crewed platforms to concentrate on missions requiring onboard personnel.
GA-ASI and Saab are discussing the MQ-9B-based capability with potential customers. The companies have not identified any customer, launch operator or procurement decision. They also disclosed neither detection ranges nor production plans, leaving the system at the flight-test and capability-demonstration stage.