Saab Fields Interest In LoyalEye Surveillance System For MQ-9B Drone | Aviation International News

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

Saab Fields Interest In LoyalEye Surveillance System

MQ-9B-mounted radar could complement piloted GlobalEye assets

MQ-9 taking off from runway in desert — A General Atomics MQ-9 made its first test flight with Saab’s LoyalEye radar in May 2026. © Saab

By Charlotte Bailey • News Reporter

September 7, 2026

Saab is in talks with several countries about possible applications for its LoyalEye radar mounted on General Atomics Aeronautical Systems' MQ-9B remotely-piloted aircraft. David Moden, senior sales director for the Swedish group's GlobalEye airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) system, told a recent press briefing that "active discussions" are in progress while the company continues to flight test and evaluate the LoyalEye version of the technology for uncrewed platforms.

U.S.-based General Atomics has been working with Saab on the uncrewed medium-altitude AEW solution since June 2025. This pairs the MQ-9B SkyGuardian platform with Saab’s S-band LoyalEye unit, which is a scaled-down version of the Erieye airborne surveillance radar that is installed on a Bombardier Global 6500 aircraft as part of the GlobalEye AEW&C system.

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