With rapidly advancing adversary technologies and tactics, airborne threats are more dangerous now than ever before. It's time for a reliable, affordable solution. General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) is poised to revolutionize Airborne Early Warning (AEW) by integrating this critical capability with the world's most proven unmanned aerial systems (UAS): the MQ-9B series of aircraft, SkyGuardian® and SeaGuardian®, as well as MQ-9B Short Takeoff and Landing (STOL), for expeditionary operations.
Whatever the mission demands, the MQ-9B AEW mission package puts air dominance within reach.
AEW has been around for decades. But when integrated with UAS, it unleashes significant advantages, most notably the elimination of risk to irreplaceable human crews.
GA-ASI is bringing AEW into the 21st century with a whole new mission profile. The MQ-9B AEW solution offers critical aloft sensing to defend against tactical air, guided missile, drone, and other threats at a fraction of the cost of manned platforms.
Operationalizing MQ-9B AEW also enables a greatly reduced crew. In general, UAS already have a lower manpower requirement, and with General Atomics' Quadratix software ecosystem, the AEW mission package offers users the very latest advancements in autonomy, machine learning, and artificial intelligence (AI) – all of which translates to new levels of capability and efficiency, including:
Operational availability for medium-altitude, long-endurance UAS is the highest of any military aircraft. MQ-9B AEW extends the reach of existing AEW fleets and can safely operate in contested environments – where manned platforms are at greater risk. It also gives forces that need AEW, but don't have legacy platforms, a powerful and affordable means to counter threats.
The MQ-9B provides range and endurance unmatched by any other platform. In the AEW configuration, SkyGuardian and SeaGuardian can get closer to the enemy and stay on station longer than any comparable aircraft.
GA-ASI's MQ-9B STOL transforms AEW into a more expeditionary capability, operating from remote locations at sea or on land, including:
At sea or over land, the AEW mission package on MQ-9B will transform airborne early warning access and affordability for MQ-9B customers worldwide.
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) is partnering with Saab to develop Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) capability for its line of MQ-9B Remotely Piloted Aircraft, which includes the SkyGuardian® and SeaGuardian® models, the United Kingdom's Protector, and the new MQ-9B STOL (Short Takeoff and Landing) model currently in development. GA-ASI plans to fly AEW on MQ-9B in 2026.
Saab announces a strategic cooperation with General Atomics Aeronautical Systems relating to the development of an Unmanned Airborne Early Warning (UAEW) solution. The solution will be based on General Atomics Aeronautical Systems' unmanned aerial system MQ-9B.
As emerging technology reshapes the modern battlefield, General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) delivers a first-of-its-kind solution with MQ-9B-series aircraft ready for Airborne Early Warning (AEW) — offering European allies urgently needed capabilities to counter air threats. By GENERAL AT
The new airborne early warning MQ-9B from General Atomics and Saab could provide a highly flexible and efficient look-down radar capability over sea and land.
Saab has announced a strategic collaboration with General Atomics Aeronautical Systems to develop a new uncrewed airborne early warning (AEW) capability based on the MQ-9B platform.
Pairing Saab's AEW sensors with the long-range, high-endurance MQ-9B allows persistent surveillance at low cost even from aircraft carriers.
