At BEDEX 2026 (Brussels European Defence Exhibition), held March 12–14 in Brussels, the American company General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI) and Sweden’s Saab Defence and Security presented an unmanned airborne early warning (UAEW) system based on the MQ-9B platform.
Photos: Jakub Link-Lenczowski, MILMAG
The cooperation to develop the platform, whose scale model was presented in Brussels, was announced on June 16, 2025. As stated at the time, the collaboration combines Saab’s renowned expertise in AEW&C (Airborne Early Warning and Control) systems with General Atomics Aeronautical Systems’ leading MALE-class (Medium Altitude Long Endurance) unmanned aircraft technology.
Under the agreement, GA-ASI will integrate Saab’s AEW sensors with the MQ-9B unmanned platform. The new capability will provide persistent surveillance and situational awareness by ensuring continuous monitoring of designated areas.
This medium-range unmanned AEW solution will complement Saab’s existing portfolio of manned AEW&C systems, including the S 106 GlobalEye. It will offer customers a wider range of options, such as the possibility of integrating AEW capabilities with naval vessels. The solution can be used independently or in manned–unmanned teams, leveraging the strengths of each capability.
The package developed by Saab will be integrated with the MQ-9B family of unmanned aircraft, which includes the land-based SkyGuardian, the maritime SeaGuardian, the British Protector RG Mk.1 variant, and the latest carrier-capable MQ-9B STOL (Short Takeoff and Landing; previously designated Mojave), currently under development.
As we learned at BEDEX 2026, the MQ-9B AEW&C, equipped with the Saab sensor package, is expected to provide the following capabilities:
- Transmission of a comprehensive air traffic picture to a ground operator;
- Detection and tracking of objects both transmitting ADS-B signals and those that do not;
- Simultaneous tracking of multiple targets with high 3D accuracy;
- A collision avoidance system (CAS) enabling automatic evasive maneuvers with aircraft equipped with AIS transponders, as well as a head-up display (HUD) for the operator to perform manual maneuvers and integration with TCAS anti-collision alerts (an optional ADS-B Out function allows compliance with future TSO-166b airspace requirements, while ADS-B In supports ADS-B DO-317B applications);
- Unrestricted access to civilian airspace by meeting Detect and Avoid (DAA) operational requirements;
- Unlimited operations over the high seas, meeting operational requirements (SeaGuardian variant).
A single module with two antenna panels of an air-cooled AESA radar operating in the X-band (8.75–8.85 GHz) weighs 59 kg and requires a maximum power supply of 640 W. The instrumented detection range is 10 nautical miles. The module measures 15.85 in in length, 18.68 in in width, and 11.84 in in height. The operational altitude ranges from 3,000 to 40,000 ft (914–12,192 m).
The MQ-9B AEW&C has been designed as a retrofit kit, preserving the aircraft’s existing operational capabilities. To date, eight flight tests have been conducted in cooperation with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), NASA, the Radio Technical Commission for Aeronautics (RTCA), and industry partners. In addition, more than 1,000 meetings of test teams were held to verify both routine and unusual operational scenarios, and the system was also tested for cybersecurity resilience.