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FlightGlobal • Craig Hoyle

GA-ASI and Saab complete first flight of MQ-9B with LoyalEye unmanned airborne early warning radar pods

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems and Saab have completed the maiden flight of the first unmanned airborne early warning (AEW) configuration: an MQ-9B equipped with Saab’s LoyalEye AEW radar pods. The companies frame the test as a major step toward next-generation uncrewed surveillance for early threat detection.

2026-05-21T09:38:36.247976-07:00

DefenseNews.com

USAF calls MQ-9 Reaper “MVP” for Epic Fury and pitches expendable autonomous-drone propulsion as lawmakers push manned-unmanned

2026-05-21T11:10:25.711914-07:00

Air Data News

General Atomics’ GA-ATS completes maiden flight of Do228 NXT modernization demonstrator

2026-05-04T04:12:50.775350-07:00

FlightGlobal

USAF and GA-ASI test APKWS integration on MQ-9A Reaper, demonstrating low-cost drone-kill capability against air and ground targ

2026-05-11T16:19:49.721795-07:00

News Timeline

DefenseNews.com

USAF calls MQ-9 Reaper “MVP” for Epic Fury and pitches expendable autonomous-drone propulsion as lawmakers push manned-unmanned US Air Force leaders told Congress on May 20 that the MQ-9 Reaper has been a key “workhorse” in the U.S. air campaign against Iran, even as the service’s fiscal 2027 budget request prioritizes crewed fighters. In parallel, GE Aerospace and Kratos won a May 19 contract to design the GE426 expendable drone engine for autonomous aircraft.

2026-05-21T11:10:25.711914-07:00

USAF calls MQ-9 Reaper “MVP” for Epic Fury and pitches expendable autonomous-drone propulsion as lawmakers push manned-unmanned

FlightGlobal

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GA-ASI and Saab complete first flight of MQ-9B with LoyalEye unmanned airborne early warning radar pods General Atomics Aeronautical Systems and Saab have completed the maiden flight of the first unmanned airborne early warning (AEW) configuration: an MQ-9B equipped with Saab’s LoyalEye AEW radar pods. The companies frame the test as a major step toward next-generation uncrewed surveillance for early threat detection.

2026-05-21T09:38:36.247976-07:00

GA-ASI and Saab complete first flight of MQ-9B with LoyalEye unmanned airborne early warning radar pods

FlightGlobal

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USAF and GA-ASI test APKWS integration on MQ-9A Reaper, demonstrating low-cost drone-kill capability against air and ground targ General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI) and the U.S. Air Force completed flight testing of the Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS) on the MQ-9A Reaper. The demonstrations included engagement of aerial targets using inexpensive air-to-air missiles/rockets, and successful test shots against both air and ground targets as the Air Force pursues cost-effective counter-UAS options.

2026-05-11T16:19:49.721795-07:00

USAF and GA-ASI test APKWS integration on MQ-9A Reaper, demonstrating low-cost drone-kill capability against air and ground targ

Air Data News

SOCOM trims OA-1K Skyraider II buy, rebalances toward MQ-9 Reaper “drone mothership” concept in FY2027 budget request U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM) says its fiscal 2027 budget request will scale back the planned acquisition of the OA-1K Skyraider II while increasing investment in unmanned systems centered on the MQ-9 Reaper. SOCOM also seeks to evolve the MQ-9 remotely piloted aircraft system into a “mothership” architecture for future operations.

2026-05-05T02:06:29.533542-07:00

SOCOM trims OA-1K Skyraider II buy, rebalances toward MQ-9 Reaper “drone mothership” concept in FY2027 budget request

Air Data News

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General Atomics’ GA-ATS completes maiden flight of Do228 NXT modernization demonstrator General Atomics AeroTec Systems (GA-ATS) has completed the maiden flight of the Do228 NXT demonstrator on May 2, 2026, at OBERPFAFFENHOFEN. Flight-testing will continue over the coming weeks to assess operational and speed characteristics as the program moves toward market entry.

2026-05-04T04:12:50.775350-07:00

General Atomics’ GA-ATS completes maiden flight of Do228 NXT modernization demonstrator

FlightGlobal

MQ-9B SkyGuardian achieves Flight Into Known Icing (FIKI) certification milestone via icing flight trials General Atomics Aeronautical Systems has concluded a series of flight tests aimed at certifying the MQ-9B Remotely Piloted Aircraft for Flight Into Known Icing (FIKI). The progress supports broader all-weather operating flexibility and expands the aircraft’s suitability for Arctic-environment missions, including known-icing flight conditions.

2026-04-21T05:33:32.443461-07:00

MQ-9B SkyGuardian achieves Flight Into Known Icing (FIKI) certification milestone via icing flight trials

Breaking Defense

MQ-9B SeaGuardian® positioned for US Navy–Marine Corps maritime mission advantage General Atomics frames the MQ-9B SeaGuardian as uniquely suited to meet modern conflict demands in the maritime battlespace, emphasizing its ability to deliver a decisive operational edge for Navy and Marine Corps missions. The pitch aligns with the platform’s broader role in persistent maritime ISR and maritime-domain operations.

2026-04-20T12:43:18.543095-07:00

MQ-9B SeaGuardian® positioned for US Navy–Marine Corps maritime mission advantage

Aviation Today

GA-ASI sets no date to resume YFQ-42A Dark Merlin flight testing after mishap General Atomics Aeronautical Systems has paused flight testing of its YFQ-42A Dark Merlin prototype for the US Air Force Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) program, following a mishap during development work. GA-ASI says it will not provide a timetable for resumption of flights while the investigation and review continue.

2026-04-16T14:50:46.363033-07:00

GA-ASI sets no date to resume YFQ-42A Dark Merlin flight testing after mishap

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General Atomics News

GA-ASI and Saab complete first flight of MQ-9B with LoyalEye unmanned airborne early warning radar pods

USAF calls MQ-9 Reaper “MVP” for Epic Fury and pitches expendable autonomous-drone propulsion as lawmakers push manned-unmanned

General Atomics’ GA-ATS completes maiden flight of Do228 NXT modernization demonstrator

USAF and GA-ASI test APKWS integration on MQ-9A Reaper, demonstrating low-cost drone-kill capability against air and ground targ

News Timeline