SAAB and General Atomics Partner to Deliver Unmanned Airborne Early Warning Capability for UK Carriers

 GA-ASI UAV with SAAB ERIEYE radar system could transform Royal Navy's surveillance capabilities by 2026

Defense Technology News - June 20, 2025

Swedish defense giant SAAB and American unmanned systems manufacturer General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI) have announced a groundbreaking strategic partnership to develop the world's first operational Unmanned Airborne Early Warning (UAEW) system, specifically designed to operate from the UK's Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers.

Partnership Details

The collaboration combines SAAB's renowned expertise in AEW&C systems with General Atomics' leading unmanned aircraft systems technology, with General Atomics integrating SAAB's AEW sensors with their unmanned MQ-9B platform. The announcement was made at the Paris Air Show 2025, marking the first AEW-tasked UAV development program.

The system will utilize SAAB's Erieye ER adaptive S-band active electronically scanned array (AESA) multi-mode radar based on Gallium Nitride (GaN) technology, scaled and repackaged in pod form for the MQ-9B AEW application.

UK Royal Navy Interest

Through the MQ-9 International Cooperation Support Partnership, of which the United Kingdom is a signatory, the Royal Navy has established that the General Atomics MQ-9 can be modified to operate from the Queen Elizabeth Class carriers. The Ministry of Defence has confirmed that the General Atomics MQ-9B is being evaluated as a potential carrier-based airborne early warning platform for the Royal Navy.

This development addresses a critical capability gap. The Royal Navy is in desperate need for a replacement capability due to failures of Crowsnest, the Merlin helicopter-borne Airborne Surveillance and Control (ASaC) system. The current system, integrated onto Merlin helicopters, is due for retirement, creating an urgent requirement for next-generation surveillance capabilities.

Technical Advantages

The unmanned solution offers significant advantages over previous helicopter-based systems. Off the shelf Short Take Off and Landing (STOL) UAS are the preferred option, due to their higher service ceilings. The Protector RG1 has a service ceiling of 40,000 ft, compared to the Merlin/Crowsnest which can only fly as high as 15,000 ft, allowing it a better radar detection range.

The MQ-9B's technical specifications make it an ideal candidate for this role. Measuring 36 feet in length with a wingspan of 79 feet, the aircraft is powered by a Honeywell TPE331-10GD turboprop engine, delivering a cruising speed of around 230 miles per hour. With an endurance of 40+ hours, SkyGuardian is capable of persistent surveillance over remote and hostile environments.

Radar Capabilities

SAAB's contribution lies in its sensor suite, an adaptation of the proven Erieye radar family, which operates in the S-band and can detect targets at ranges exceeding 250 miles. Unlike traditional rotating radars, the Erieye's fixed AESA design reduces maintenance costs and improves reliability.

Performance Specifications

The Erieye radar system delivers exceptional performance across multiple domains:

Coverage and Range:

• 300-degree coverage with instrumental range of 450 km
• Detection range of 350 km in dense hostile electronic warfare environments
• Effective surveillance area exceeding 500,000 square kilometers horizontally
• Vertical coverage extending over 60,000 feet
• Range optimization based on altitude: up to 450 km at 30,000 ft, extending to 550 km at 35,000 ft

Detection Capabilities:

• Designed to work in severe clutter and jamming conditions
• Capable of detecting and tracking fighter aircraft, hovering helicopters, cruise missiles
• Maritime targets down to Jet Ski-sized vessels
• Objects as small as submarine periscopes
• Enhanced detection of small and future stealth targets through Erieye ER technology

Technical Features:

• Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) technology using Gallium Nitride components
• S-band operation (2-4 GHz) ensures optimal performance in all weather conditions
• Adaptive beam forming allowing energy concentration on priority areas or targets
• High precision tracking with rapid update rates
• Friend-or-foe identification capability
• Integrated sea surveillance mode for maritime operations

Development Timeline

GA-ASI intends to begin test flights of the new equipment in 2026, with the first flight of the AEW-equipped MQ-9B scheduled for 2026. This aggressive timeline reflects the urgent operational requirement from the Royal Navy.

The podded radar system is intended to be compatible with all MQ-9B variants, including SeaGuardian and Mojave short take-off and landing (STOL) aircraft. Illustrative renders released by the companies show the SkyGuardian carrying three such pods. Two of them must be the radar equipment while the one in the middle, under the drone's belly, is an additional power supply unit to feed the system independently from its carrier.

Strategic Impact

What sets this collaboration apart is its focus on affordability and adaptability. Traditional AEW&C systems, like the Boeing E-3 Sentry or the newer E-7 Wedgetail, rely on large, manned aircraft that are costly to operate and maintain. The UAEW, by contrast, offers a medium-altitude, long-endurance solution that can operate autonomously or in tandem with manned assets.

GA-ASI president David Alexander emphasized the operational transformation: "High- and low-tech air threats both pose major challenges to global air forces. We're developing an affordable AEW solution in cooperation with SAAB... we're also making AEW capability possible in areas it doesn't exist today, such as from some navy warships at sea".

International Applications

Once operational, the system is expected to support customers such as the U.K., Canada, Japan, India, and the U.S., where the MQ-9B is already in active procurement or deployment.

Carl-Johan Bergholm, head of SAAB's business area Surveillance, stated: "We are bringing our exceptional ability to detect and track challenging objects to customers looking to use MQ-9B to meet their specific needs. This unmanned medium-altitude AEW solution, leveraging core competencies of both companies, has excellent potential to complement our existing AEW&C portfolio and provide customers with yet another cutting-edge capability".

Operational Flexibility

The solution can be used standalone or in manned-unmanned teaming, leveraging the strengths of each capability. It will provide customers with a wider range of options, such as AEW capability from naval warships, to meet mission needs.

The system's ability to launch from naval vessels adds a layer of flexibility, enabling smaller navies or nations with limited budgets to access advanced surveillance without investing in dedicated aircraft carriers or large airbases.

Current UK Carrier Operations

The development comes as HMS Prince of Wales and its escorts departed Portsmouth and Plymouth on April 22, 2025, beginning an eight-month mission to demonstrate U.K. and allied collective resolve from the Atlantic to the Pacific. The UK Royal Navy is accelerating plans to build increased mass at sea, including by developing uncrewed air systems for operation from its two Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers.

Looking Ahead

This partnership represents a significant step toward the future of naval aviation, where unmanned systems will increasingly complement and enhance traditional crewed platforms. For the Royal Navy, the UAEW system promises to restore critical airborne early warning capabilities while demonstrating the service's commitment to innovative solutions for 21st-century maritime challenges.

The success of this program could establish a new paradigm for naval AEW operations worldwide, offering nations a cost-effective path to advanced surveillance capabilities without the infrastructure requirements of traditional AWACS aircraft.

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Sources

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