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2017-11-15

SAAB: Technology at the Forefront of New Thinking

Advanced technology is at the heart of everything that Saab does. Every year, Saab invests about 25 percent of its turnover in research and development, but technology on its own is not enough. It must be cost-effective, accessible and, above all, useful over the entire lifespan of the product. Saab seeks to find this balance as part of the fundamental design process in everything it sets out to do.

Situational awareness has never been more important and at the Dubai Airshow, Saab will showcase several world-leading surveillance technologies. The company’s ground-breaking products on display at this year’s Dubai Airshow, include the GlobalEye Swing Role Surveillance System, Swordfish MPA and ground-based air surveillance radar Giraffe 4A, as well as Saab’s air traffic management solutions.

Information is the key
The UAE has now placed on order the GlobalEye SRSS (Swing Role Surveillance System) solution at the very high end of the spectrum of airborne surveillance and AEW&C solutions. Saab’s Erieye AEW&C solutions are in operation in eight countries, making it the world’s most widely-used system of its kind.

Information is the key to any nation’s defence in protecting both individuals and civil society. Armed forces thus need accurate, timely and consistent information about what is happening in the skies, at sea and along national borders. This complex and demanding task is made more difficult by the ever-changing landscape of threats and challenges. Defense against armed attack is one primary mission, but there are many others in the modern world.

Terrorism, smuggling, piracy, illegal fishing and other threats to natural resources all pose real threats to society in peacetime as well as times of conflict. These problems come in all shapes and sizes, often proving difficult to spot. Hostile forces and terrorist groups can lurk in remote areas, moving by both air and sea using civilian traffic, rough terrain, camouflage techniques or sheer distance to conceal themselves. For some nations, economic interests are only assured by protecting resources, such as shipping lanes and oil fields, which may take higher priority for governments than fear of armed conflict.

Whatever the national priorities may be, in today’s world every decision and action must be driven by information to make command and control possible. Only airborne surveillance has the speed, flexibility and reach to access required information from air, land and sea. And Saab has the technological know-how to deliver that information in an airborne system that is truly advanced, effective and affordable.

Unique swing role capability
With GlobalEye, Saab has redefined the airborne surveillance market with a new level of multi-mission capability. GlobalEye is unique to combine the swing-role surveillance system with the surveillance capability normally incorporated in dedicated AEW&C, MPA and SIGINT systems. It gives a unique operational and cost effective airborne surveillance and identification capacity second to none. GlobalEye is capable of dedicated or simultaneous surveillance and command and control air-to-air, air-to-surface and air-to-ground. Not only will this reduce the need for dedicated surveillance resources but gives the commander outstanding flexibility.

GlobalEye’s sophisticated, high-performance AEW&C provides simultaneous long-range detection, tracking and surveillance in the air, land and maritime domains, all from a single platform. It can track very low-observable air and sea targets, including ‘stealthy’ aircraft, cruise missiles or submarine periscopes, even in heavy clutter and jamming environments.

GlobalEye can work alone or be easily integrated with other national assets. It cooperates with air, land and sea forces to extend their horizons, guarantee their safety and enhance their effectiveness. GlobalEye is a true force multiplier providing information dominance and complete security across all domains. It enables Saab’s customers to stay ahead of whatever the future may bring.

Giraffe radars from strength to strength
Saab’s well-known Giraffe, Sea Giraffe and Arthur family of surface radar systems support ground and naval forces with air defense, air surveillance, weapons location, sense-and-warn and naval warfare. Within the surface-based radar area sector, the company’s recent market successes include an order for the Giraffe 1X short-range 3D radar - a lightweight and highly compact yet high-performing system. Last month, the US Navy announced it had selected Saab’s Sea Giraffe AMB multi-mode radar for the US Coast Guard’s newest class of ship, the Offshore Patrol Cutter (OPC).

Enhanced EW self-protection from Arexis
Saab is also a leading supplier of Electronic Warfare (EW) systems. The portfolio comprises signals intelligence systems that intercept and analyse radar and communication signals, giving improved situation awareness and border surveillance, as well as self-protection systems protecting aircraft, land vehicles, naval vessels and submarines.

On the EW side, Saab is in the final stages of development of a new family of EW self-protection systems called Arexis. One version of Arexis is the on-board EW suite in the new version of the Gripen fighter, Gripen E/F. It will be one of the most advanced EW systems ever installed in a fighter aircraft.

The core technologies in Arexis are ultra-wideband digital receivers and DRFMs (Digital Radio Frequency Memory) devices, gallium nitride solid-state active electronically scanned array jammer transmitters and interferometric direction finding systems. For the advanced electronic attack application, these technologies are adapted to the lower frequency ranges that are required to jam modern anti-stealth air defence systems, the output power is increased, and everything is repacked in a pod to make it a role-specific solution.

Optimized Air Traffic Management
Saab’s Air Traffic Management (ATM) expertise covers surveillance sensors, air traffic control automation, collaborative decision-making and digital towers. Saab’s solutions are trusted by air navigation service providers and airports, along with airlines spanning six continents in more than 100 locations across 45 countries.

Saab is the first supplier to provide a digital solution for air traffic control whose systems have been in operational service in Sweden since 2015. Successful test installations have also been implemented in Australia, the USA, the Netherlands, Norway and Ireland. Last month, Cranfield University, one of the top four commercial research universities in the United Kingdom, selected Saab to deliver a digital air traffic control system to Cranfield Airport.

Don’t miss Saab’s presentations at Dubai Airshow
Saab will host four mini-talks during Dubai Airshow:

• We just made the earth flat again

• Anti-submarine warfare – achieving more with less

• ATC’s digital decision – is it the future or a passing phase?

• Top gun or best miss? How to settle air combat training

The mini-talks will be held in Saab’s stand 540 13-16 November at 12.00 noon, 12.45 p.m. and 13.30 p.m. Please check saab.com/dubaiairshow for the final timetable.

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