Saab delivered the first GlobalEye ‘Swing Role Surveillance System’ aircraft to the United Arab Emirates on the 29th of April 2020.
The United Arab Emirates ordered three GlobalEye aircraft, with the initial contract signed in late 2015.
In November 2019 the country also announced its intention to complete a contract amendment for the purchase of an additional two systems.
“The delivery of the first GlobalEye is a major milestone for Saab, but also an important step in the history of airborne early warning and control.
We have set a new standard for the market and I am proud to say that we have delivered the most advanced airborne surveillance solution in the world to the United Arab Emirates”, says Micael Johansson, President and CEO of Saab.
According to the firm:
“GlobalEye is Saab’s new airborne early warning and control solution. It provides air, maritime and ground surveillance in a single solution.
GlobalEye combines Saab’s new Erieye Extended Range Radar and a range of additional advanced sensors with the ultra-long range Global 6000 aircraft from Bombardier.”
Nice piece of kit. SAAB produces some great stuff for such a small country. They are always on the leading edge.
Because SAAB don’t gold plate everything unlike UK defence procurement were we gold plate everything until we can only afford a small batch .
Correct. This was a very smart move by Saab!
“Finland’s HX program is ostensibly a multi-role fighter competition, but Saab has taken the step of adding the force-multiplying GlobalEye airborne early warning (AEW) and intelligence/surveillance/reconnaissance (ISR) platform to its offer of the Gripen E/F so that it can generate a wider set of capabilities. By leveraging the GlobalEye’s state-of-the-art AEW/ISR suite, the overall combat effectiveness of the Gripen force can be considerably enhanced, and its use in the AEW role can download the burden on the fighter force by negating the need for combat air patrols in certain scenarios.”
https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/defense/2020-02-05/saab-adds-globaleye-finnish-gripen-offer