General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI) and Swedish defense company Saab have completed flight tests of an airborne early warning (AEW) system integrated with a MQ-9B aircraft. The trials demonstrated the system’s ability to simultaneously track multiple airborne and maritime targets at extended ranges.
The tests involved Saab’s LoyalEye radar, housed in external payload pods mounted on a GA-ASI-built MQ-9B. The aircraft operated from GA-ASI’s Desert Horizon flight operations facility in Southern California. According to GA-ASI, the trials successfully tracked instrumented fighter aircraft, commercial airliners, and maritime targets.
The demonstration combines Saab’s radar technology with the MQ-9B’s long-endurance capabilities.The integration could enable uncrewed aircraft to perform persistent airborne early warning and surveillance missions, complementing existing crewed AEW platforms.
GA-ASI President David R. Alexander stated,
“This has been one of the most highly anticipated flight tests we have performed”
This is an interesting demonstration, let’s examine this.
Source: Defense Updates
