First uncrewed AWACS drone takes flight - General Atomics MQ-9B carrying Saab LoyalEye AEW radar ...

Added: 2026-05-25

[00:00:00]Defending against drone swarms just got an unmanned eye in the sky.

[00:00:05]General Atomics and Saab completed the world's first flight of an uncrewed airborne early warning aircraft on May 19th at the company's Desert Horizon facility in Southern California.

[00:00:19]The platform is an MQ-9B remotely piloted drone fitted with Saab's Loyal Eye pods, an active electronically scanned array radar system named in a nod to Saab's crewed Global Eye program.

[00:00:34]Two pods sit under the wings holding the radar arrays. A third pod on the center line carries the processing units. The MQ-9B endurance exceeds 30 to 40 hours depending on payload with a range near 6,900 miles.

[00:00:52]Loyal Eye is built to track tactical munitions, cruise missiles, drone swarms, and fighter and bomber aircraft.

[00:01:01]Operators can monitor the picture from command centers using line of sight and satellite links.

[00:01:08]A full capability demonstration is planned later this year.