The US Air Force is evaluating a project to convert MQ‑9 Reaper drones into airborne early warning (AEW) platforms by installing LoyalEye AESA radars from Saab. The radar can continuously monitor large volumes of airspace without mechanical rotation and also perform ground surveillance using SAR and GMTI modes. Collected data is processed onboard and transmitted to ground stations for integration into C4ISR, Link‑16 and other combat networks. The MQ‑9’s long endurance—over 24 hours and up to 40,000 feet—offers a cheaper, persistent radar presence compared to traditional AWACS aircraft, potentially covering gaps over the Persian Gulf, the Arabian Sea and dispersed front lines, though it has limitations in power, data‑link reliance and electronic‑warfare vulnerability.