Saab and General Atomics completed the first flight of an unmanned airborne early warning system on 19 May 2026 in Southern California. The MQ-9B SkyGuardian drone was equipped with Saab’s LoyalEye radar pods during the test flight. A full-capability demonstration of the MQ-9B LoyalEye system is planned for summer 2026.

According to overtdefense.com, the LoyalEye radar provides 360° air surveillance and the system is operated remotely from a ground station. ArmyRecognition.com reported that the system uses modular wing-mounted AESA radar pods instead of a traditional rotodome and can operate at roughly 40,000 feet with SATCOM-linked ground crews. GA-ASI President David R. Alexander said the system would provide critical aloft sensing to defend against tactical air munitions, guided missiles, drones, fighter and bomber aircraft, and other threats, and would help avoid putting aircrews in harm.

Media characterized the WZ-9 Divine Eagle drone as a challenge to stealth aircraft. According to en.topwar.ru, China developed the WZ-9 to detect stealth aircraft. The drone has a main wing 35 meters long that passes through the aft part of the device, with two tail stabilizers and a turbofan engine between them. It is equipped with an advanced radar specifically designed to detect stealth aircraft and has two conformal antenna arrays located along the fuselages that work in conjunction with a wi.

The MQ-9B LoyalEye system may improve aerial surveillance accessibility for countries like India with large borders and maritime areas. The MQ-9B LoyalEye system may expand surveillance capacity in NATO and Indo-Pacific regions against specific threats. The MQ-9B LoyalEye program may replace some crewed AWACS missions with lower-cost, long-endurance unmanned platforms.