Overview
- The companies will flight‑demonstrate a Saab‑equipped MQ‑9B at GA‑ASI’s Desert Horizon facility in Southern California in summer 2026.
- GA‑ASI says pairing Saab’s AEW sensors with the long‑endurance MQ‑9B targets persistent air surveillance over land or sea where traditional AEW is unavailable or too costly.
- The package is described to provide early warning, long‑range detection and simultaneous tracking with integration over line‑of‑sight links and SATCOM.
- The AEW configuration is intended for the MQ‑9B family, including SkyGuardian, SeaGuardian, the UK’s Protector variant and a STOL version in development.
- GA‑ASI reports completing a third‑lifetime full‑scale fatigue test on Oct. 31 to support STANAG 4671 certification, while the offering is being marketed internationally with reporting noting possible UK interest.