Did Sweden Just Make the Coolest AWACS Drone Ever?

In this video, I break down why Saab’s and General Atomics' new airborne radar-equipped Reaper drone is such a combat enhancer. From persistent multi-day surveillance and networked Link-16 data sharing to affordability and survivability, this might be the perfect bridge between outdated Cold War assets and the future of distributed airpower.

The U.S. is dragging its feet on replacing the ancient E-3 Sentry. Boeing’s Wedgetail program is stalled, and the Pentagon is daydreaming about space-based ISR that doesn’t exist yet. Meanwhile, Sweden’s Saab and General Atomics just did something brilliant: they turned the MQ-9 Reaper, yes, that Reaper, into a full-fledged AEW&C platform.

As an Air Force AWACS veteran and former infantry guy with the 101st, I’ve seen what it takes to keep airborne radar in the sky. And let me tell you, this drone is not just “good enough.” It’s better than most of what’s out there right now, and it’s available off-the-shelf.

Just a video note: I use the acronym AWACS interchangeably with AEW&C. Technically, AWACS usually refers to a specific jet, and AEW&C refers to a capability.

We'll talk about:
• Why the Royal Navy is eyeing this hard as Crowsnest sunsets
• How MQ-9B’s plug-and-play design rewrites the AEW playbook
• Why NATO planners are taking notes
• And how this Reaper variant could help replace not just the E-3, but an entire outdated model of surveillance warfare

It’s persistent, modular, uncrewed, and surprisingly affordable. Saab and General Atomics may have just leapfrogged the U.S. Air Force and given NATO an off-ramp from AWACS obsolescence.

🔥 Stay until the end to hear my take on why this is a big deal not just for Europe, but for the entire Western alliance.

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Video Sources: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1A...

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TLDR: Sweden's modification of a Reaper drone into an AEW platform is a creative solution. This military technology is a potential answer to the USAF's airborne early warning aircraft dilemma. The MQ-9 Reaper, equipped for airborne surveillance, offers a cost-effective alternative to traditional AWACS systems.