Saab and General Atomics test radar system on MQ-9B drone
Saab and General Atomics have successfully flight-tested the LoyalEye airborne early warning radar on a MQ-9B remotely piloted aircraft. The test confirms the system's ability to detect and track targets from an unmanned platform.
Saab and General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI) have concluded flight tests of the LoyalEye airborne early warning (AEW) radar integrated into an MQ-9B remotely piloted aircraft. The exercise, conducted at GA-ASI's Desert Horizon facility in Southern California, aimed to validate the sensor's ability to detect, classify, and track airborne targets autonomously.
During the flight, the integrated system provided real-time data to stakeholders observing from the ground. This test was designed to verify the compatibility between Saab's radar hardware and General Atomics' aircraft platform, marking a key milestone in moving AEW capabilities from traditional crewed aircraft to unmanned aerial systems.
The ability to deploy persistent airborne surveillance via unmanned platforms represents a shift in defense monitoring strategies. With the system’s performance now verified, the companies are positioned to offer this capability to military operators seeking to reduce pilot exposure while maintaining high-fidelity target tracking.