Saab today signed a contract with the Swedish Defense Materiel Administration (FMV) regarding the delivery of a third GlobalEye airborne early warning and control aircraft to Sweden. The order value is approximately SEK 2.6 billion (approximately $249 million) and the delivery schedule is 2024-2029.
The order is based on an option included in Saab’s June 2022 contract with FMV, which included two GlobalEye, as well as options to acquire two additional aircrafts. GlobalEye receives the designation S 106 in the Swedish Armed Forces.
“We are proud to contribute to Sweden’s defence with another GlobalEye aircraft, which will provide unique situational awareness of the surroundings as well the capability of early detection and warning of potential threats in the air, at sea or on land,” says Micael Johansson, President and CEO of Saab.
GlobalEye is an advanced multi-domain AEW&C solution with an array of active and passive sensors that provide long-range detection and identification of objects in the air, at sea and over land. By providing real-time information to units in air forces, armies and navies, GlobalEye enables enhanced situational awareness of the surrounding areas and early detection of threats..
The new planes will replace the old Saab 340 Airborne Early Warning (AEW) aircraft in the Swedish Air Force (Svenska Flygvapnet). Two of these aircrafts, which were not operational, were sold to Poland. The remaining pair of ASC890s (Swedish designation) were recently ceded to Ukraine, as part of a military aid agreement signed between Stockholm and Kiev.
http://aviacionline.com2024/05/capability-leap-sweden-to-donate-saab-340-aew-early-warning-aircraft-to-ukraine/
The powerful GlobalEye
The GlobalEye is one of the most capable and modern AEW&C systems in the world. Its main sensor is the Erieye ER (extended range) radar, based on GaN technology, with an instrumental range of 550 km. It also has an AESA radar for maritime and ground scanning under the fuselage, an optical pod, passive sensors for the detection of radio emissions and powerful electronic warfare equipment for self-protection.
The Bombardier Global 6000/6500 high-performance business jet is used as the platform, allowing the GlobalEye a mission time of up to 11 hours.
