In a significant stride towards the future of aerial surveillance, Saab and General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI) have announced a strategic collaboration to develop an Unmanned Airborne Early Warning (UAEW) solution. This innovative partnership aims to integrate Saab’s renowned expertise in Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) systems with GA-ASI’s cutting-edge MQ-9B unmanned aerial system, promising to deliver persistent surveillance and enhanced situational awareness.
The new UAEW solution will leverage the proven capabilities of the MQ-9B drone, a platform already in service with several international partners. By equipping this highly capable unmanned aircraft with Saab’s advanced AEW sensors, the two companies seek to create a system that can provide continuous monitoring of designated areas, offering an exceptional ability to detect and track challenging objects in the air.
This collaboration is set to redefine how early warning capabilities are accessed and utilized. Unlike traditional manned AEW&C aircraft, the unmanned MQ-9B platform can offer longer endurance and operate in environments that might be too risky for human crews, all while providing a more cost-effective solution. The system is designed to complement Saab’s existing portfolio of manned AEW&C systems, such as GlobalEye, offering customers a wider array of flexible deployment options.
The new capability will provide critical aloft sensing to defend against a spectrum of threats, ranging from sophisticated cruise missiles to increasingly prevalent drone swarms. It can be deployed stand-alone or integrated into manned-unmanned teaming operations, maximizing the strengths of both human-crewed and autonomous systems. This versatility extends to deployment from naval warships, making airborne early warning possible in areas where it previously wasn’t feasible.
With GA-ASI planning flight tests for the AEW-equipped MQ-9B in 2026, this initiative addresses the growing demand for long-endurance surveillance capabilities in complex operational environments. The partnership between Saab, a leader in defense and security, and General Atomics, a foremost builder of unmanned aircraft systems, signals a transformative step in airborne early warning technology, promising to deliver unparalleled situational awareness and enhance defensive capabilities for nations worldwide.