MQ-9B LoyalEye: The Rise of Unmanned Airborne Early Warning

 

MQ-9B LoyalEye AEW maiden flight

GA-ASI and SAAB are collaborating to develop a remotely piloted aircraft (RPA)-based airborne early warning (AEW) platform.

GA-ASI is equipping its MQ-9B Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) with Saab-developed LoyalEye radar sensor to create a low-cost platform that will complement manned AEW platforms.

On May 19, GA-ASI flew its MQ-9B for the first time with two Airborne Early Warning (AEW) pods that will eventually carry the fixed antennas of the LoyalEye radar, providing persistent and cost-effective air surveillance.

In the past, SAAB has developed two AEW&C platforms — the Saab 340 Erieye and its successor, the Saab GlobalEye. The Erieye is mounted on the Saab 340 twin-turboprop regional airliner, while the GlobalEye is mounted on the Bombardier Global 6000/6500 ultra-long-range business jet. Both feature AESA radars with fixed antennas.

This MQ-9B maiden flight marks the start of a several-month test-and-evaluation phase, which will culminate in a full-capability demonstration later this year.

The joint AEW offering from Saab and GA-ASI will support a wide range of applications, including early detection and warning, long-range detection and tracking, and the simultaneous tracking of multiple targets. The system will operate both beyond line of sight and via satellite communication (SATCOM) connectivity.

The platform will facilitate defence against tactical air munitions, guided missiles, drones, fighter and bomber aircraft, and other threats.

Using an RPA instead of a manned platform for AEW has some unique advantages, including:

1. High loiter time
2. Aircrews are not put in harm's way
3. Lower acquisition cost
4. Lower operating cost

Loiter time could possibly extend to nearly 40 hours, compared with the approximately 8–11 hours achievable by manned aircraft.

Aircrew and radar operators would be positioned on the ground rather than on the airborne platform. The arrangement is not just safer; it is also cost-effective. Aircrew, radar consoles, and control systems do not remain platform-specific.

The estimated price of the MQ-9B LoyalEye will reportedly be in the $60–80 million range.

The operating cost of an RPA platform would be significantly lower than that of a manned platform.

China's WZ-9 Divine Eagle

China has been actively pursuing remotely piloted airborne early warning (AEW) capability.

Its Shenyang WZ-9 "Divine Eagle" is a high-altitude, long-endurance (HALE), jet-powered UAV designed specifically for AEW and counter-stealth roles.

The twin-boom platform, featuring high-aspect-ratio main wings and a forward canard-style horizontal stabilizer, is powered by a single WZ-9 turbofan engine.

However, the Divine Eagle differs conceptually from the MQ-9B AEW.

The 15-tonne Divine Eagle is believed to be the largest UAV ever built. It is estimated to be roughly 15 m long, with a 45 m wingspan, offers approximately 35 hours of endurance, and has a service ceiling of about 25 km (82,000 ft).

Chinese media suggest that the UAV will be used for a variety of missions, including early warning, targeting, electronic warfare (EW), and satellite communications.

Implications for India

The possibility of Pakistan acquiring an MQ-9B AEW analogue in the future should worry Indian defence planners. The platform is relatively inexpensive but likely capable.

The Pakistan Air Force (PAF) already operates the Saab 2000 Erieye AEW&C (Airborne Early Warning & Control) platform. An export variant of the Saab 340 Erieye, the Saab 2000 Erieye uses the Saab 2000 twin-turboprop regional airliner.

The PAF is one of the largest operators of the platform, with nine aircraft in service as of mid-2026.

It could be possible for Saab to supply the MQ-9B AEW itself or, if the US would not allow it, fit the LoyalEye radar to an alternative MALE platform such as the Bayraktar Akinci.

The lighter payload capability of the Akinci (1,500 kg), compared with that of the MQ-9B (2,500 kg), would make the fit tight once fuel, sensors, and weapons are factored in. However, the Akinci's twin turboprops (up to 2 × 850 hp) likely offer comparable or greater electrical capacity and redundancy.

Copyright © Vijainder K Thakur. First published on Thumkar.

The Reason Why India Declined the US Offer of MQ-9B Reaper Armed Drones

MQ-9B via Twitter

 

During the recent 2+2 Ministerial dialog between India and the US, the US reportedly pressured India into buying MQ-9B drones but India declined, denying President Donald Trump a foreign policy success that could have boosted his reelection chances. The deal would have secured US jobs (The USAF has lost interest in the Reaper, a weapon system honed for anti-terrorist operations, with its focus on the perceived combined threat from China and Russia) and reiterated Trump's tough anti-China posture.

 Multiple current officials speaking on the condition of anonymity told the US News that the Reaper sale was at the top of the agenda for Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Secretary of Defense Mark Esper. India apparently signed the the Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement (BECA) for Geo-Spatial Cooperation on October 27, 2020, an agreement that would have facilitated MQ-9B sales, but declined to purchase the MQ-9B. 

It's likely that India declined the MQ-9 offer because of high per unit cost - roughly $100 million each factoring in infrastructure costs - and the drone's limited utility in the context of the current India - China stand-off in Ladakh.

The total cost of procuring 30 MQ-9 drones from the US was projected at $6 billion which likely includes weapons and logistics support.

While, US officials believe that the armed drone would perform a critical role in better preparing the Indian army for the threat it faces from the PLA and its fleet of drones, it's likely that the Indian armed forces, with limited financial resources at their disposal, don't agree. 

The ET on July 25, 2020 did report that the services were contemplating "an emergency procurement" of six Predator-B drones, 2 each for the 3 services, from the US in the context of the ongoing confrontation with China along the LAC. However, in July 2019, the HT had reported that the services were rethinking the drone procurement following the Iranian take-down of a US Global Hawk on June 20, 2019 using its S-300 AD system. The IAF had reportedly internally raised questions about an armed drone surviving in a contested air space like over Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (POK) or along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with both potential adversaries equipped with top of the line surface-to-air missile (SAM) systems. 

The very expensive MQ-9, which operates from medium altitude, would be an easy target for PLA's AD systems comprising S-300 and S-400 systems. Additionally, the PLA has HQ-16 (Buk) air medium-range and HQ-9 long-range ADS currently in service. 

Some sources told the US News that India may eventually buy the drones as part of a larger and more comprehensive arms package at some point in the future and that probably would be the best option for India.