Defense & Military
GA-ASI and Saab Develop Unmanned AEW&C System for MQ-9B Drone
GA-ASI and Saab partner to integrate AEW&C on MQ-9B drone, providing cost-effective, persistent surveillance against modern aerial threats.
A New Era of Vigilance: Unmanned AEW&C Takes Flight
The landscape of aerial surveillance is on the cusp of a significant transformation. General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) and Swedish defense giant Saab are joining forces to integrate advanced Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) capabilities onto the MQ-9B Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA). This collaboration, solidified by the announcement of a planned demonstration in the summer of 2026, signals a pivotal shift towards unmanned platforms for complex surveillance missions. The initiative aims to deliver a persistent, cost-effective solution for monitoring airspace, addressing a spectrum of threats from sophisticated cruise missiles to swarms of small Drones.
Traditionally, AEW&C capabilities have been the domain of large, manned aircraft, making them a costly and resource-intensive asset accessible to a limited number of nations. The integration of Saab’s world-class sensor technology with GA-ASI’s long-endurance MQ-9B platform is set to democratize this critical capability. By leveraging an unmanned system, the Partnerships seeks to provide continuous “eyes in the sky” without risking aircrew in contested environments, a crucial advantage in modern geopolitical climates. This development is not just an incremental improvement; it represents a fundamental rethinking of how air and maritime dominance can be achieved and maintained.
The forthcoming demonstration at GA-ASI’s Desert Horizon flight operations facility in Southern California will be a critical milestone. It will showcase the fusion of two leading technologies: the proven persistence and reliability of the MQ-9B and the sophisticated detection power of Saab’s AEW&C systems. The goal is to create a force multiplier that can augment existing fleets, extend surveillance ranges, and offer a powerful new tool for nations that currently lack this vital defensive layer. As threats evolve in complexity and accessibility, this partnership is poised to deliver a timely and adaptable response.
The Strategic Partnership: Merging Endurance with Advanced Sensing
The collaboration between GA-ASI and Saab is a natural synergy of their respective strengths. GA-ASI is a world leader in the design and manufacture of RPAs, with the MQ-9B series, including the SkyGuardian and SeaGuardian models, setting the standard for long-endurance unmanned Aircraft. These platforms are renowned for their ability to stay aloft for extended periods, offering unparalleled persistence for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) missions. The MQ-9B boasts an endurance of over 40 hours and a service ceiling of up to 40,000 feet, making it an ideal host for a demanding mission package like AEW&C.
On the other side of the partnership, Saab brings decades of expertise in developing cutting-edge Radar-Systems and sensor systems. Their Erieye radar system, a cornerstone of their GlobalEye AEW&C platform, is known for its ability to detect and track a wide array of targets over vast distances, including stealthy aircraft and low-flying cruise missiles. By adapting this technology for an unmanned platform, Saab is extending its reach into a new operational domain. The integration will involve pairing these advanced sensors with the MQ-9B, creating a system capable of simultaneous air, sea, and land surveillance.
The joint offering is designed to be versatile, spanning a wide range of applications from early detection and warning to long-range tracking and flexible combat system integration. This capability will be delivered over both line-of-sight and satellite communication links, ensuring that critical data can be relayed in real-time to command centers and other assets. The result is a system that not only sees the battlespace with clarity but also shares that vision seamlessly across a networked force.
“We’re developing an affordable AEW solution in cooperation with Saab… that will transform our customers’ operations against both sophisticated cruise missiles and simple but dangerous drone swarms.”, David R. Alexander, President, GA-ASI.
Redefining Operational Calculus: Cost, Persistence, and Safety
One of the most compelling arguments for an unmanned AEW&C platform is the significant reduction in operational costs. Manned AEW&C aircraft are expensive to procure, operate, and maintain. An MQ-9B-based solution offers the potential for similar, if not superior, persistence at a fraction of the cost, making it an attainable capability for a much broader range of countries. This cost-effectiveness allows nations to field a credible surveillance and early warning system without the prohibitive expense associated with traditional platforms.
Persistence is another key advantage. The ability of the MQ-9B to remain on station for more than a day provides continuous, uninterrupted surveillance of a designated area. This is a critical factor in maintaining situational awareness, particularly in dynamic threat environments where gaps in coverage can be exploited. For maritime operations, this capability is especially transformative, offering the potential for persistent AEW&C from naval carriers or land bases to protect fleets where such coverage may be limited or unavailable.
Furthermore, the unmanned nature of the platform fundamentally changes the risk equation. In high-threat environments, deploying a manned aircraft means putting a highly trained crew in harm’s way. The MQ-9B AEW&C eliminates this risk, allowing commanders to gather critical intelligence in contested airspace without fear of personnel loss. This factor alone is a powerful driver for the adoption of unmanned systems in increasingly complex and dangerous operational theaters.
A Force Multiplier for Modern Militaries
The introduction of an MQ-9B AEW&C system is not just about replacing existing assets; it’s about creating new strategic possibilities. For nations that already operate sophisticated AEW&C fleets, the unmanned platform can serve as a valuable supplement, extending the reach and endurance of their existing systems and providing a more layered defense. It can also be integrated into manned-unmanned teaming concepts, where the RPA acts as a forward sensor, feeding data back to manned aircraft or command centers, enhancing the overall operational effectiveness of the force.
For countries without existing AEW&C capabilities, this new system is a game-changer. It provides a powerful and affordable means to counter emerging threats, from hostile aircraft and missiles to the growing challenge of drone swarms. The MQ-9B is already being acquired or deployed by numerous countries, including the United Kingdom, Belgium, Canada, and Japan, creating a ready market for this new AEW&C variant. The ability to add such a critical capability to an existing or planned fleet of RPAs presents a highly attractive proposition.
The system’s versatility extends to its potential deployment from both land bases and naval vessels, including aircraft carriers. This opens up new possibilities for providing organic AEW&C support to maritime task forces, a capability that has traditionally been limited to a few of the world’s largest navies. By making persistent aerial surveillance more accessible and flexible, the GA-ASI and Saab partnership is poised to enhance the defensive and offensive capabilities of Military-Aircraft around the globe.
Concluding Section
The collaboration between GA-ASI and Saab to mount an AEW&C system on the MQ-9B platform is a landmark development in military aviation. By combining a proven long-endurance RPA with state-of-the-art sensor technology, they are creating a solution that addresses the core challenges of modern aerial surveillance: cost, persistence, and risk. The planned 2026 demonstration will be a crucial step in proving the viability of this concept and showcasing its potential to transform how nations monitor and defend their airspace.
Looking ahead, the successful integration of AEW&C capabilities onto an unmanned platform will likely accelerate the trend towards more autonomous and networked military systems. It opens the door to new operational concepts, such as persistent surveillance of vast maritime domains and the effective management of complex airspaces in high-threat scenarios. This initiative is more than just a new product; it’s a glimpse into the future of air power, where the synergy of manned and unmanned systems creates a more vigilant, resilient, and capable force.
FAQ
Question: What is the main goal of the GA-ASI and Saab partnership?
Answer: The primary goal is to integrate Saab’s advanced Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) sensor systems onto GA-ASI’s MQ-9B Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) to provide a persistent, affordable, and lower-risk surveillance solution.
Question: When is the flight demonstration scheduled to take place?
Answer: A flight demonstration of the AEW&C-equipped MQ-9B is scheduled for the summer of 2026 at GA-ASI’s Desert Horizon flight operations facility in Southern California.
Question: What are the key advantages of an unmanned AEW&C platform?
Answer: The main advantages include significantly lower operational costs compared to manned aircraft, enhanced persistence with the ability to stay airborne for over 40 hours, and the elimination of risk to aircrew in dangerous or contested environments.
Question: Which countries might be potential customers for this new system?
Answer: Countries that have already ordered or are operating the MQ-9B platform, such as the United Kingdom, Belgium, Canada, Japan, India, and the U.S., are seen as potential customers for the new AEW&C variant.
Sources: GA-ASI
Defense Contracts
Air Force Expands Joby Autonomy Contracts After Cross-Country Tour
The US Air Force has raised its commitment to Joby’s autonomy contracts to nearly $37 million, with a $50 million testing ceiling.
The U.S. Air Force has added funding to Joby Aviation’s autonomous flight contracts, bringing its total commitment to nearly $37 million and raising the ceiling on Joby’s operational testing contract to $50 million. The money is aimed at autonomy software development and expanded operational testing in the Pacific.
Joby announced the expansion in a press release distributed on November 4, 2026, the same day it reported third quarter 2026 results. The agreements cover software integration and operational testing across two primary contracts with AFWERX, the Air Force’s innovation arm, and follow a cross-country tour in which a Joby-equipped Cessna Caravan logged 6,665 miles of autonomous flights, with landings in 11 states and integrated operations across 24 states.
What the Air Force is paying for
According to the release, the funding supports autonomy software development and expanded operational testing in the Pacific as the Air Force moves toward sustained autonomous logistics operations. Joby said the new contracts will focus on follow-on Pacific military exercises, and that the funding also supports ongoing design updates and safety reviews to extend the autonomy stack’s capabilities.
The two figures in the announcement measure different things. Nearly $37 million is the Air Force’s total commitment, while $50 million is a ceiling on the operational testing contract. In the forward-looking statements attached to the release, Joby lists Air Force funding and appropriations limits, and the possibility that a contract ceiling is not reached, among the risks to its plans.
JoeBen Bevirt, Founder and CEO of Joby Aviation, called the expansion “a powerful validation of the adaptability of Joby’s autonomy stack.” He said the system was designed to be platform-agnostic and that the funding “will accelerate our path to sustained uncrewed operations.”
Kate Brown, Contested Logistics Tactical Airlift Lead at AFWERX, said the goal is to “sustain cargo operations in contested environments” while reducing risk to aircrews and preserving crewed aircraft for the missions that need them.
From Agile Flag to a coast-to-coast tour
The autonomy system at the center of the contracts came to Joby through its acquisition of the autonomy division of Xwing, which Joby completed in June 2024. In an August 26, 2024 release, Joby said that team flew a fully autonomous Cessna 208B Grand Caravan for more than 3,900 miles between military bases and public airports in California and Nevada during the Air Force’s Agile Flag 24-3 exercise, with a safety pilot monitoring the aircraft. The aircraft completed a fully autonomous taxi, takeoff and landing at each of 9 locations, after the Xwing team had logged more than 2,800 miles of fully autonomous flight in Agile Flag 24-1 earlier that year.
“The return on investment for the U.S. Air Force with this technology is significant,” Col. Max Bremer, Air Mobility Command Special Access Program management officer, said in that release, explaining that using the system for smaller cargo frees larger cargo aircraft for tasks such as moving large parts or engines. According to Joby, the system delivered critical replacement parts 24 hours faster than conventional logistics during Agile Flag, and during REFORPAC exercises in August 2025 an aircraft in Hawaii was operated remotely from Guam, nearly 4,000 miles away. AirPro News covered Joby’s role in the REFORPAC 2025 exercise at the time.
The cross-country tour, part of Joby’s 2026 Electric Skies campaign, took the aircraft from Concord, California, to North Carolina’s Outer Banks with zero control inputs from its onboard safety pilot. Joby said in its September 18, 2026 release that the 3,199-mile eastbound flight was supervised remotely from Joby’s Autonomy Headquarters in California and from Shaw Air Force Base in South Carolina, where the aircraft demonstrated representative military flight operations. AirPro News reported on the transcontinental autonomous flight the following day.
Across the full multi-leg tour, Joby said the aircraft performed fully autonomous taxiing, takeoffs, route navigation and landings under remote supervision from up to 2,537 miles away. The September release gave a remote supervision distance of up to 2,323 miles for the eastbound transcontinental flight. A ground-based operator monitors each flight, updates routes and communicates with air traffic control in real time, and the autonomy stack has completed more than 400 fully autonomous flights, according to Joby.
Where defense fits in Joby’s business
Joby is best known for its piloted electric air taxi, and the November 4 release presents the autonomy work as part of a dual-use strategy covering defense logistics, cargo and emergency response. Its autonomous J208 operations are part of the White House-backed eVTOL Integration Pilot Program (eIPP) in Utah and North Carolina. North Carolina tour flights supported the North Carolina Department of Transportation’s eLIFT-NC initiative for statewide healthcare logistics, and western flights contributed to the Utah Department of Transportation’s multi-state uFLY coalition, which is evaluating high-altitude, extreme-environment airspace integration for the FAA.
Joby also plans to acquire Resonant Sciences, with closing expected early in 2027. In its third quarter 2026 results release, filed with the SEC on November 4, Joby described Resonant Sciences as an EBITDA-positive defense technology company with more than $100 million in trailing twelve-month revenue and said the deal would significantly expand its defense business. Closing conditions for the planned Resonant Sciences acquisition remain outstanding, according to the filing.
The same results release put third quarter 2026 revenue at $55 million, primarily from Blade, the passenger transportation business Joby operates in the United States and Europe. Joby said it is in the fifth and final stage of FAA type certification and has 17 aircraft in production.
Military Technology
Saab Demonstrates Autonomous BVR AI Agents on Gripen E
Saab unveiled in-house AI agents for autonomous BVR air combat on the Gripen E after two years of flight testing.
Saab AB has successfully demonstrated autonomous Beyond Visual Range (BVR) air combat capabilities using proprietary artificial intelligence agents integrated into a Gripen E fighter aircraft. The Swedish aerospace manufacturer officially unveiled the in-house technology on November 3, 2026, following approximately two years of airborne testing.
In a press release issued today, Saab confirmed the flight trials mark a critical step toward developing collaborative combat aircraft networks, where crewed and uncrewed systems operate as a coordinated force. The milestone underscores the company’s strategy to maintain sovereign control over its technology stack rather than relying entirely on external software providers.
Sovereign AI development and the Sferical facility
Saab centralized its artificial intelligence development under the AI Fighter Pilot Academy (AIFPA), an infrastructure designed to create, train, and evaluate AI agents. The department driving this initiative, Saab Advanced Programs, features a workforce where 40 percent of the staff hold doctorate-level qualifications, according to Aviation International News.
Peter Nilsson, Head of Advanced Programs at Saab Aeronautics, emphasized the operational focus of the project.
“We have not only built our own AI agents, but we have also flown them. This demonstrates our capability to develop AI agents that can be integrated into operational fighter aircraft. The future of air combat will not be defined by individual platforms acting alone, but by networks of crewed and uncrewed systems working together as a coordinated force. Through our ownership of the entire technology stack, we are building the capabilities needed for that future.”
To support this development, Saab recently implemented the Sferical AI facility in Linköping, Sweden. Part-owned by Saab, Ericsson, and AstraZeneca, the sovereign computing asset utilizes Nvidia’s DGX SuperPOD architecture. Aviation International News reported that the facility is powered by 1,152 Nvidia Grace Blackwell GB300 graphics processing units. This computing power allows Saab to run a one-hour flight test simulation one billion times in the same period, compared to just 1,200 times in a traditional central processing unit environment.
Speaking to Breaking Defense, Nilsson outlined the primary challenge facing the AIFPA following the successful flight trials.
“The harder question is how we turn this success into a dependable capability that can learn, improve, and be relevant over time… that is the true purpose of the AI Fighter Pilot Academy.”
Gripen E architecture and testing timeline
Saab, which employs approximately 31,000 people globally, utilized the Gripen E as the primary testbed for its AI agents. The aircraft features a software-defined architecture that segregates mission software from flight-critical functions. This separation enables the rapid integration and testing of new technologies without requiring dedicated experimental platforms or compromising safety of flight.
Prior to unveiling its in-house agents, Saab collaborated with third-party developers to validate the aircraft’s autonomous potential. On May 28, 2025, a Gripen E trials aircraft flew for the first time with the Centaur AI agent developed by Helsing, demonstrating initial BVR air combat capabilities.
Following these third-party trials, Saab transitioned to testing its proprietary agents. The company briefed journalists on the readiness of its in-house AI agents for operational deployment on October 30, 2026, before the official public unveiling on November 3, 2026.
Collaborative combat and future integration
The integration of artificial intelligence into combat aircraft aligns with a broader industry shift toward Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) concepts. Defence contractors globally are developing networks where crewed fighters command uncrewed loyal wingman platforms.
Saab is actively testing the sensor networks required for these collaborative operations. On October 28, 2026, Saab and General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) successfully flight-tested an unmanned airborne early warning (AEW) capability, integrating Saab’s LoyalEye radar with an MQ-9B unmanned UAV.
Looking ahead, Saab anticipates that the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) and the Swedish Air Force will absorb these AI agents into real-world operations within months or single digits of years, according to Aviation International News. In the interim, Saab plans to expand the capabilities of its agents by flying them in a broader range of scenarios, establishing the foundation for future uncrewed platforms.
AirPro News analysis
Saab’s insistence on sovereign, in-house artificial intelligence development contrasts with competitors who heavily outsource to commercial technology firms. By owning the entire technology stack, Saab positions itself to offer highly secure, exportable AI packages free from third-party licensing bottlenecks or foreign regulatory hurdles. The massive investment in the Sferical AI facility indicates we are seeing a shift from experimental AI flight tests to industrialized, mass-scale tactical training for autonomous systems. If Saab can deliver on its timeline for Swedish Air Forces integration, the Gripen E could become one of the first Western fighters to field operational, combat-ready AI agents in frontline service.
Defense & Military
Greece Orders Up to Six Embraer KC-390 Millennium Aircraft
Greece signed a government-to-government deal with Portugal for up to six KC-390 Millennium aircraft, with first delivery in 2027.
The Hellenic Ministry of National Defense has signed a government-to-government agreement with Portugal to acquire up to six Embraer KC-390 Millennium multi-mission aircraft, making Greece the seventh European nation to select the Brazilian-built tactical airlifter.
Announced by Embraer in a press release on November 2, 2026, the contract includes three firm orders and options for three additional aircraft, with the first delivery to the Hellenic Air Force scheduled for 2027. The acquisition aims to modernize Greece’s airlift and air-to-air refueling capabilities while enhancing interoperability with allied North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) forces.
Expanding the European footprint
The procurement is structured as a bilateral agreement between the governments of Greece and Portugal. By selecting the KC-390 Millennium, Greece joins a growing list of NATO and European Union member states transitioning to the jet-powered transport to replace legacy turboprop fleets.
Embraer views the Greek acquisition as a validation of the aircraft’s utility within the European defense architecture, where interoperability and multi-role flexibility are primary requirements for fleet modernization.
“We are honored by Greece’s decision to acquire the KC-390 Millennium. This choice underscores the trust and confidence that leading NATO members place in our aircraft,” Bosco Da Costa Junior, President and CEO of Embraer Defense & Security, said in the company statement. “This very important milestone further solidifies the aircraft’s position as a preferred solution for military airlift among NATO allies.”
Da Costa Junior added that the aircraft’s proven performance, reliability, and cost efficiency make it an ideal choice for nations seeking to enhance their operational capabilities.
The KC-390’s development and market position
The Embraer C-390 and KC-390 Millennium is a medium-size, twin-engine jet-powered military transport aircraft designed to perform aerial refueling, troop transport, and cargo airlift. Development of the platform began in the mid-2000s. The Brazilian Air Force formally joined the project in 2009 by awarding a development contract to Embraer, a manufacturer with over 55 years of history and more than 9,000 aircraft delivered worldwide.
The aircraft completed its maiden flight in 2015, achieved civil certification in 2018, and entered military operational service in September 2019. It was developed specifically as a modern, jet-powered alternative to legacy turboprop tactical transports like the Lockheed C-130 Hercules.
Greece is the seventh European nation to select the aircraft, joining Portugal, Hungary, the Netherlands, Austria, the Czech Republic, and Sweden. Outside of Europe, the aircraft has been acquired by the air forces of Brazil, the Republic of Korea, the Republic of Uzbekistan, the United Arab Emirates, and Colombia.
The program has seen significant momentum in recent months. On July 8, 2026, the Czech Air Force received its first C-390 Millennium transport aircraft, which featured a special three-tone gray camouflage designed by the Military History Institute in Prague. Shortly after, on July 23, 2026, Colombia signed a contract for two KC-390 Millennium transports, with one configured as a tanker to support its incoming Gripen fighter fleet.
AirPro News analysis
Embraer’s success in Europe with the KC-390 Millennium highlights a definitive shift in the tactical airlift market. For decades, the Lockheed Martin C-130 Hercules dominated this space. The KC-390’s jet-powered speed, payload capacity, and multi-mission flexibility have proven highly attractive to medium-sized NATO air forces looking to modernize. Securing Greece, a nation with stringent defense requirements and a focus on regional interoperability, validates Embraer’s strategy of leveraging early European adopters like Portugal to facilitate government-to-government sales. We expect this momentum to place increasing pressure on competing legacy platforms in upcoming recapitalization bids across the globe.
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