General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI) and Saab have demonstrated a MQ-9B drone tracking multiple targets at long range using Saab’s LoyalEye airborne early warning (AEW) radar.
The flight tests took place over the past few months at GA-ASI’s Desert Horizon flight operations facility in Southern California. The MQ-9B simultaneously tracked several airborne and maritime targets, including instrumented fighter jets acting as adversaries and commercial aircraft.
LoyalEye was mounted on the aircraft in payload pods. Saab said the latest test validated the system’s ability to detect, track, and classify airborne targets in a representative operational scenario, with stakeholders observing the demonstration in real time.
The MQ-9B AEW system is designed to operate independently or alongside crewed airborne early warning and control aircraft.
What AEW Adds to MQ-9B
Airborne early warning systems use radar to detect and track potential threats at a distance, helping military operators build a picture of activity in the air and coordinate responses.
Adding AEW to the MQ-9B is intended to extend surveillance coverage by combining radar sensing with the aircraft’s long endurance. The unmanned platform could remain on station for extended periods, helping monitor large areas while reducing the need to expose aircrews to potentially dangerous operating environments.
“LoyalEye complements existing capabilities by adding flexibility, extending reach, and enabling a more efficient use of resources in demanding environments,” Saab Surveillance head Carl-Johan Begholm said.
The system could also provide flexibility in how military forces manage operations. GA-ASI said battle management and command-and-control functions could be distributed across ground facilities, ships, or existing crewed AEW aircraft, depending on available infrastructure.
