# Saab and General Atomics flight test airborne early warning radar on MQ-9B Saab says the flight validated detection, tracking and classification of airborne targets. The evaluation program began in May. Published 2026-10-29 by TGOs. Canonical: https://tgos.io/news/2026/10/29/saab-and-general-atomics-flight-test-airborne-early-warning/ Saab and General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI) have flight tested Saab's LoyalEye airborne early warning (AEW) radar on the MQ-9B remotely piloted aircraft system, Saab announced Oct. 28.[1] Saab says the test validated the integrated system's ability to detect, track and classify airborne targets from an unmanned platform.[1] Saab says LoyalEye on MQ-9B can operate independently or alongside manned airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) platforms.[1] The flight is part of an evaluation program that began with the system's first flight in May 2026.[1] The test took place at GA-ASI's Desert Horizon Flight Operations Facility in Southern California.[1] Stakeholders watched the capability in real time during what Saab described as a representative operational scenario.[1] GA-ASI President David R. Alexander described worldwide customer interest in AEW capability on MQ-9B as extremely high.[1] The announcement names no customer, order or fielding schedule.[1] ## Why it matters Carl-Johan Bergholm, head of Saab's Surveillance business area, said LoyalEye is designed to complement existing AEW&C solutions with additional flexibility and persistence.[1] ## Sources 1. Saab and GA-ASI successfully flight test LoyalEye AEW capability on MQ-9B, Saab release via PR Newswire, Oct. 28, 2026