Saab UK has officially inaugurated its new three-building manufacturing campus in Fareham, Hampshire, enhancing Britain’s sovereign radar and underwater robotics capabilities, according to a press release.
The site was opened on 4 February 2025 by the Rt Hon Jonathan Reynolds MP, Secretary of State for Business and Trade. It features the development and production of Saab’s “3D multi-mission radar, Giraffe 1X,” and its all-electric “Seaeye SR20 subsea remotely operated vehicle,” as stated in the press release.
The campus is expected to support up to 400 jobs, including apprenticeships, and provides room for further growth in the UK’s defence manufacturing sector.
Saab’s President and CEO, Micael Johansson, said:
“This new campus is testament to Saab’s growth in the UK, reinforcing our long-term commitment to the UK’s defence. Thanks to our investment here we will deliver innovative technologies and products for our customers. We are pleased to have the Secretary of State for Business and Trade join us today to mark this important occasion and to underline the important relationship between Saab and the UK.”
In line with the government’s economic policies, the Rt Hon Jonathan Reynolds MP commented:
“Following the Government’s pledge to go further and faster to grow the economy, this is another vote of confidence in the UK, our world-class defence sector, and our upcoming Industrial Strategy. Saab’s investment in Hampshire has brought a major boost to local communities with hundreds of new high-paid, high-skilled jobs, and is exactly the sort of growth our pro-business, pro-growth Industrial Strategy will support.”
The new facility, which also incorporates Saab’s Seaeye underwater robotics portfolio, will supply radar systems for both domestic and international customers.
It is set to benefit the Ministry of Defence by “meeting future customer radar requirements and servicing,” as the company supports the “Giraffe 1X, Giraffe AMB air defence radars, and TAIPAN (Arthur) artillery locating radars,” according to the press release.
The Rt Hon John Healey MP, Secretary of State for Defence, said:
“This major investment has demonstrated how defence is an engine for growth. Saab’s new facility strengthens support for the radars that help protect our Armed Forces, having created highly skilled jobs while driving innovation. With promising apprenticeship opportunities, this site is helping to drive the jobs of the future – ensuring the next generation has the expertise to keep Britain at the forefront of defence technology.”
Saab confirmed that the Fareham campus forms part of the company’s pledged investment announced in 2023, signalling an ongoing commitment to UK defence and strengthening the nation’s advanced manufacturing capabilities.
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You are a fucking disgrace! Wearing saris over the uniform! You look absolutely ridiculous! We’re a fucking laughing stock! We’re the only mad country in the world doing this! These are British citizens! Not Indian! Enough! Bending the fucking knee to every fucker! You are traitors, corrupt and an absolute embarrassment! Stop worrying about what you look like and grovelling to other cultures! What about our British culture!? Fucking disgraceful!
I didn’t get what this was about, now I’ve caught up.
The RN uniform change?
I really don’t see the issue? A British Indian having the mix of both cultures represented in some of their dress uniform. I read Scots and Welsh have variations too.
I’m going to comment on the OP, not something else like ‘Gareth Browne’…..
The opening of this new facility by Saab looks good. I hope it is a not so subtle pointer towards the Defence Review including an order for additional AD systems for the Royal Artillery and (maybe) RAF Regt.
I hope so too!
It would be a good use of cash to get some more Sky Sabre + variants with the longer range flavours of CAMM.
That would be nice. We need to get the system into Akrotiri too, in the absence of anything with a long range/ABM capability.
Lots of interesting things on that big Industrial estate where Saab are located.
So are we actually buying sets of Giraffe 1X?
Are they going to be linked to an effector like Terrahawk or just for surveillance?
How’s the naval integration going?
It’s a great sensor, we just need to buy lots of them.
Hi mate.
I think that Giraffe 1X is already used by 16 RA as part of the Skysabre system. I do not know about any maritime use for the RN yet.
Hi DM
Isn’t Sky Sabre Giraffe AMB, the slightly larger one on a pole? There’ve been prototypes of a Supacat HMT carrying one on exercises but no apparent effector. Your sources probably have more definite information, but I’m just working off publicity photos.
Similarly, Navy Lookout reported that one of the purchase of 1X was for naval testing on board XV Patrick Blackett, but it’s usually quite well publicised when XVPB sails with new and interesting kit and I haven’t heard anything.
Hi mate.
I did read myself on Twitter that Patrick Blackett was involved with the 1X.
My sources? Only the ORBATS mate, I cannot talk of the Giraffe ABM whether it is larger. Davey B would be the man for that.
Last year the RA announced that they were looking at replacing the current Giraffe AMB radar used by Sky Sabre. The assumption is that with the possible inclusion of missiles such as the CAAM-ER and CAAM-MR, whose effective range is right on the radar’s detection limits. Therefore a new radar is required that can see and detect further. Therefore Giraffe 1X is not it.
The Giraffe 1X is a new lightweight active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar, it operates in the X-band (8 – 12GHz) and its published detection range is 75km (47 miles). Its small footprint allows it to be operated and transported from the bed of a pick-up truck.
The version of the Giraffe AMB the RA uses for Sky Sabre operates in the C-band (4 – 8GHz). It operates on a extensionsble mast, which can allow it the vehicle to hide in a wood, whilst the radar is extended above the tree tops. In theory the antenna should be twice the size of the 1X antenna. The AMB is an older type of passive electronically steered array (PESA) radar. This is better than the traditional mechanically scanned radars, but does have a number of disadvantages compared to an AESA radar. This version of the AMB radar has a published detection range of 120km (75 miles). Which is below the expected maximum range of the CAAM-MR.
Saab do make maritime versions of these radars (eg Sea Giraffe 1X). Which are used on smaller vessels like patrol boats and some of the smaller corvettes.
The image above looks a bit like the Arthur shell/mortar detection radar. However Saab also make the Giraffe 4A which also looks similar to this image. The 4A is a modern AESA radar that combines both the Arthur and AMB roles, it operates in the S-band (2 – 4GHz) with a published detection range of 400km (250 miles). Both the 4A and AMB radars need to be transported by a truck that also carries a large power-set. The 4A antenna array is significantly bigger than the AMB’s, it is not fitted to an extensionable mast, due to its size. However, this would be the obvious upgrade to the Sky Sabre’s AMB radar.
Thanks DB, that makes sense.
I spent a while a few weeks ago trawling through SAAB’s datasheets for possible CAMM-MR radars.
4A seems the obvious option with a 280km instrumented range but still on a containerised platform.
Is there any real disadvantage to not having the extendible radar mast?
Also, that makes it sound like CAMM-MR will fit in the existing launch vehicles. Is there any new data on that?
Does no one learn how to read anymore?
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