On June 27, Saab announced a new contract with the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) for the provision of a third airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) GlobalEye aircraft to the Swedish Air Force, to replace the gap that will soon be left in capabilities with the transfer of a Saab 340 AEW to Ukraine. It should be noted that the order is part of the options included in the previous contract signed between the two parties in 2022, which included two GlobalEye aircraft and options to acquire two additional aircraft.
In May of this year, the Swedish government confirmed the transfer of a Saab 340 AEW&C airborne early warning and control aircraft to the Ukrainian Air Force, which in practice resulted in a reduction in airborne surveillance and control capabilities for the country’s air force. In this context, along with the announcement of the new assistance package to Ukraine, the Swedish Ministry of Defense confirmed that they would finalize the order for two AEW&C GlobalEye aircraft.
Recently, Saab confirmed that it was progressing in the provision of the first two aircraft for the Swedish Air Force included in the 2022 contract, emphasizing that the first of them is already in its conversion phase, after a Bombardier Global 6000 from Canada arrived at Saab’s facilities in Linköping earlier this year for conversion work into the future GlobalEye AEW&C platform.
The Saab GlobalEye aircraft correspond to an Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) system with sensors and equipment installed on a Bombardier Global 6000/6500 aircraft, with an operational range of eleven thousand kilometers. They are notable for featuring the latest version of the Erieye AESA radar, the ability to operate at an altitude of up to 10,700 meters, and the capacity to detect threats within a range of 458 kilometers.
Saab’s President and CEO Micael Johansson highlighted, “We are proud to contribute to Sweden’s defense with another GlobalEye aircraft, which will provide a unique situational awareness of the environment, as well as the capability for early detection and warning of potential threats in the air, at sea, or on land.”
*Photographs used for illustration purposes.
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