MQ-9B Flies With Two Saab LoyalEye Radar Pods
General Atomics and Saab's MQ-9B airborne early-warning project recorded its first flight with two LoyalEye radar pods in May 2026.
FlyMarshall Newsroom1 min read
Photo: FlightGlobal
An MQ-9B flew with two pod-mounted Saab LoyalEye radars in May 2026, in a flight involving General Atomics Aeronautical Systems and Saab.
Key details
- The flight tested the LoyalEye airborne early-warning system on a General Atomics MQ-9B aircraft.
- The aircraft carried two radar pods.
- The flight took place in May 2026.
The MQ-9B carried two Saab LoyalEye radar pods on its first flight in May 2026.
Why it matters
The flight brings Saab’s LoyalEye radar system together with the MQ-9B platform in an airborne early-warning configuration, a capability relevant to military operators evaluating airborne surveillance aircraft.
What happens next
The May flight gives General Atomics and Saab a flight-test milestone as they continue work on the MQ-9B and LoyalEye combination. What capabilities would you want to see from an airborne early-warning aircraft?
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