Dubai Airshow 2025: GA-ASI’s MQ-9B racks up new milestones with AEW demo planned
GA-ASI’s MQ-9B has several procurement contracts across Europe, including with Belgium and Poland. (Photo: GA-ASI)
GA-ASI has progressed its efforts to bring airborne early warning (AEW) capability to its MQ-9B, as the company, along with Saab, announced it will demonstrate the mission kit in mid-2026.
The AEW system consists of three pods – a centre-line pod and two pods on each of the wings – GA-ASI senior director strategic communications and marketing C Mark Brinkley outlined to Shephard at the Dubai Airshow.
“It’s a natural fit,” Brinkley said, in reference to the partnership between Saab and GA-ASI. “I think we all understand that airborne early warning is a mission tailor-made for unmanned systems.”
According to GA-ASI, the AEW solution
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