The radar-equipped “SkyGuardian” drones successfully detected a number of incoming “airborne targets,” as well as non-threatening aircraft such as commercial planes.

Advanced uncrewed aerial systems (UAS) are being touted as potential “loyal wingmen” for manned combat aircraft. However, earlier this month, an aerial drone showed that it could fulfill a different role as well: namely, serving as a “spotter” of sorts for Swedish aerospace manufacturer Saab’s LoyalEye airborne early warning radar.

The Swedish firm announced on Wednesday that it had conducted a successful flight test of the unmanned airborne early warning (AEW) capability with General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc.’s (GA-ASI’s) MQ-9B “SkyGuardian” remotely piloted medium-altitude, long-endurance (MALE) UAS.

The test flight took place at GA-ASI’s Desert Horizon Flight Operations Facility in Southern California, where it “validated the performance of the integrated system, including its ability to detect, track, and classify airborne targets from an unmanned platform,” Saab confirmed in a media statement.

“This has been one of the most highly anticipated flight tests we have performed,” said GA-ASI President David R. Alexander. “The level of customer interest in AEW capability on MQ-9B throughout the world is extremely high. It just makes sense.”

Early Warning Radars Are Designed to Track Multiple Targets at Once

During the demonstration, the MQ-9B, GA-ASI’s flagship UAS, was able to simultaneously track multiple airborne and maritime targets at long ranges. The targets included “multiple instrumented red fighter jets,” along with non-threatening commercial aircraft. This was the latest flight test in an ongoing evaluation program that began with the system’s maiden flight back in May.

According to Saab, the LoyalEye on the MQ-9B can operate independently or alongside manned AEW&C platforms, and the U-AEW capability will extend the surveillance range while increasing situational awareness. As with other loyal wingman drones, the MQ-9B can be deployed to contested environments, reducing the exposure of a manned aircraft.

“This flight test marks an important milestone in the development of unmanned airborne early warning capabilities. LoyalEye is designed to complement existing AEW&C solutions by providing additional flexibility and persistence, and today’s flight validates the capability in a representative operational scenario,” said Carl-Johan Bergholm, head of Saab’s surveillance business division.

About the MQ-9B SkyGuardian Drone

• Length: 38 ft (11.6–11.7 m)
• Wingspan: 79 feet (24 meters)
• Maximum Takeoff Weight (MTOW): 12,500 lb (5,670 kg)
• Powerplant: Honeywell TPE331-10 turboprop engine (with Digital Electronic Engine Control, 45 kVA primary power, and 2 kW backup)
• Fuel Capacity: 6,000 lb (2,722 kg)
• Internal Payload Capacity: 800 lb (363 kg)
• External Payload Capacity: 4,000 to 4,750 lb (up to 2,155 kg) across 9 hardpoints (8 wing-mounted, 1 centerline)
• Service Ceiling: 40,000+ ft (12,192+ m)
• Range: 6,000+ nautical miles (6,900 mi, 11,112 km); 40 hours’ endurance
• Loadout: No weapons; LoyalEye early warning radar, in Saab/GA-ASI configuration

The GA-ASI MQ-9B SkyGuardian is the baseline long-endurance model. It was developed to provide global intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) while complying with NATO STANAG 4671 airworthiness standards. It offers more than 40 hours of flight time, can be controlled remotely via satellite communications, and can be employed to perform Battle Management Command & Control (BMC2) in a distributed fashion anywhere appropriate infrastructure exists.

A maritime-optimized variant, the MQ-9B SeaGuardian, features a 360-degree surface-search radar, automatic identification system (AIS) integration, and anti-submarine warfare (ASW) capabilities. It has 30 hours of endurance.

There is also the MQ-9B STOL, a short-takeoff-and-landing model that was developed for expeditionary operations and “big-deck” naval vessels. 

About the Author: Peter Suciu

Peter Suciu regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. He has contributed to dozens of newspapers, magazines, and websites over a 30-year career in journalism, including Forbes and Clearance Jobs. He is based in Michigan. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu. You can email the author at Editor@nationalinterest.org.

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