Swedish defense company Saab has announced a strategic partnership with General Atomics Aeronautical Systems to develop airborne early warning and control capabilities for the MQ-9B remotely piloted aircraft platform. The collaboration combines Saab’s sensor technology with General Atomics’ unmanned aircraft systems to create what the companies describe as an affordable alternative to traditional manned early warning platforms.
Image: Saab
The partnership will integrate Saab’s airborne early warning sensors with General Atomics’ MQ-9B platform, which includes the SkyGuardian and SeaGuardian models used by military forces worldwide. General Atomics plans to conduct initial airborne early warning flights on the MQ-9B in 2026.
The MQ-9B represents the most advanced medium-altitude, long-endurance unmanned aircraft system currently in operation. The platform has logged more than 8 million flight hours across General Atomics’ Predator line of unmanned systems over three decades of operation.
“High and low-tech air threats both pose major challenges to global air forces,” said David Alexander, president of General Atomics Aeronautical Systems. “We’re developing an affordable AEW solution in cooperation with Saab, the leading provider of AEW&C systems, that will transform our customers’ operations against both sophisticated cruise missiles and simple but dangerous drone swarms. We’re also making AEW capability possible in areas it doesn’t exist today, such as from some navy warships at sea.”
The naval application builds on General Atomics’ recent demonstrations of ship-based drone operations. In November 2024, the company’s Gray Eagle STOL aircraft completed a ship-to-shore flight by a medium-altitude, long-endurance drone, launching from a South Korean navy amphibious ship and landing at a ground base. The previous year, General Atomics demonstrated similar short takeoff and landing capabilities aboard the U.K. Royal Navy’s HMS Prince of Wales aircraft carrier. These tests validated the ability of unmanned aircraft to operate from naval platforms without traditional catapults or arresting gear, opening new possibilities for deploying early warning capabilities from warships.
Saab brings extensive experience in airborne early warning and control systems to the partnership, including technology from its GlobalEye surveillance aircraft. The Swedish company has delivered early warning systems to NATO allies and international partners for decades.
The integrated system will provide early detection and warning capabilities, long-range detection and tracking, and simultaneous target monitoring with flexible combat system integration. The solution operates over both line-of-sight and satellite communications connectivity.
Carl-Johan Bergholm, head of Saab’s Surveillance business area, stated that the partnership leverages core competencies from both companies to provide customers with expanded early warning capabilities. The solution can operate independently or as part of manned-unmanned teams.
The MQ-9B early warning package will offer critical airborne sensing to defend against tactical aircraft, guided missiles, drones and other threats. As an unmanned platform, the system eliminates aircrew risk while providing operational availability that exceeds manned military aircraft. The platform’s medium-altitude, long-endurance capabilities allow for extended surveillance missions.
General Atomics currently has MQ-9B orders from the United Kingdom, Belgium, Canada, Poland, Japan, Taiwan, India, and the U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command. The platform has supported various U.S. Navy exercises including Northern Edge, Integrated Battle Problem, RIMPAC, and Group Sail operations.
The partnership represents a broader trend toward unmanned systems that provide advanced military capabilities at reduced operational costs. The solution addresses air forces that require early warning capabilities but lack access to traditional manned platforms or seek to extend the range of existing early warning fleets.
Both companies emphasized that the new capability complements existing airborne early warning systems rather than replacing them entirely. The solution provides military planners with additional flexibility in deploying early warning assets across different operational scenarios.
The partnership follows General Atomics’ established pattern of integrating third-party sensors and systems onto its MQ-9B platform. The company has previously worked with various defense contractors to expand the platform’s mission capabilities beyond its original surveillance and strike roles.
Development of the integrated system will continue through 2025, with initial flight testing scheduled for the following year. The companies have not disclosed specific delivery timelines for operational systems or identified initial customers for the new capability.
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