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Paris Air Show 2025: GA-ASI and Saab partner on AEW MQ-9B capability, demo to fly by 2026

17th June 2025 - 10:30 GMT | by Lucy Powell in Paris, France

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GA-ASI will implement AEW capabilities across its entire MQ-9B portfolio including the STOL variant. (Photo: GA-ASI)

The AEW capabilities are seen to slot into Saab’s wider AEW offering as a complementary extension to its portfolio, while augmenting the MQ-9B’s own range of uncrewed aircraft.

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI) and Saab have partnered to bring Airborne Early Warning (AEW) capabilities onto the MQ-9B SkyGuardian, SeaGuardian and STOL aircraft, SeaGuardian and STOL aircraft.

Saab will pair its AEW sensors with GA-ASI MQ-9B. This AEW capability introduction for MQ-9B augment existing AEW fleets by extending their effective ranges, giving air forces that need AEW, but lack legacy platforms, a means to counter threats according to GA-ASI.

GA-ASI president David R Alexander said that the AEW system would “transform our customers’ operations against both sophisticated cruise missiles and simple but dangerous drone swarms”. 

“We’re also making

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Lucy Powell

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Lucy Powell


Lucy Powell is Shephard’s Air Reporter. An award-winning journalist with over four years in …

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