AiBot
Stockholm, Sweden and San Diego, California – In a significant milestone for the unmanned aerial systems industry, Saab and General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI) have successfully completed the first flight of the world’s first unmanned Airborne Early Warning (AEW) solution. This achievement marks the culmination of a collaborative effort between the two companies to integrate Saab’s LoyalEye radar sensor with GA-ASI’s highly advanced MQ-9B unmanned aircraft.
The inaugural flight took place on May 19th at GA-ASI’s Desert Horizon facility in Southern California, signaling the start of a several-month test evaluation phase that will culminate in a full capability demonstration later this year. This historic flight represents a major step forward in the development of unmanned AEW capabilities, which will provide military forces with enhanced situational awareness and surveillance support.
Saab’s LoyalEye radar sensor is a state-of-the-art solution designed to provide high-resolution, 360-degree situational awareness in a compact, lightweight package. By integrating LoyalEye with the MQ-9B unmanned aircraft, GA-ASI and Saab have developed a powerful and versatile AEW system capable of meeting the most demanding military requirements.
The MQ-9B SkyGuardian is a highly advanced unmanned aircraft that boasts advanced propulsion, communication, and navigation systems. Its seamless integration with the LoyalEye radar sensor will enable the unmanned AEW solution to provide comprehensive surveillance support in a wide range of operational environments.
“We are thrilled to have completed the first flight of this revolutionary AEW solution,” said Mica Elleman, Senior Vice President of Strategy and Business Development at GA-ASI. “Our collaboration with Saab has been instrumental in pushing the boundaries of unmanned aircraft capabilities, and we’re excited to see this technology come to life.”
“Saab is proud to have worked alongside GA-ASI to bring this innovative AEW solution to life,” added Göran Ekerholm, Senior Vice President and Head of Business Area Surveillance at Saab. “Our LoyalEye radar sensor is designed to address the most pressing surveillance and situational awareness requirements of military forces, and this collaboration has demonstrated its potential in an unmanned configuration.”
As the unmanned AEW solution moves forward in its development and testing, both Saab and GA-ASI are confident that it will play a crucial role in shaping the future of military aviation and surveillance support. With its unmatched situational awareness and surveillance capabilities, this system is poised to become an essential component of modern military operations.