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2019-12-05

UAE Intends to Procure Additional GlobalEye

At the recently concluded Dubai Airshow, the UAE announced that they intend to conclude a contract amendment for the purchase of two additional GlobalEye Airborne Early Warning & Control aircraft from Saab. According to the announcement, the potential order value related to this contract amendment would be US$1.018 billion. A period of final negotiations will now follow. Saab has not yet signed the contract amendment or received an order relating to the announcement.

The original development and production contract for GlobalEye was awarded to Saab at the Dubai Airshow in November 2015 by the UAE with an initial order for two systems. An additional order by the UAE for a third system was announced in 2017.

GlobalEye provides air, maritime and ground surveillance in a single solution. It combines a new extended range radar with the ultra-long range Global 6000jet aircraft from Bombardier.

Saab brought a GlobalEye Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) Aircraft to the show where it was on static display, marking the first time the aircraft has been at an exhibition. It flew from its base in Linköping, Sweden and arrived in the UAE. The aircraft returned to Sweden, where work continues on the programme.

“We felt it was only right and proper that the Dubai Airshow was the first exhibition at which GlobalEye would feature. It marks four years since Saab was selected amongst strong competition to be the supplier to the UAE for this advanced capability, and we welcome this opportunity to showcase it here in its home nation,” said Lars Tossman, Vice President and Head of Saab’s business unit Radar Solutions.

Visitors to the show are amongst the first few to have seen GlobalEye in person since its first unveiling in February 2018. Since then three GlobalEye aircraft have undertaken their first flights in Sweden, as part of the rapid programme of work undertaken by Saab to develop and integrate the advanced Erieye Extended Range radar and other sensors on-board the Bombardier Global 6000 jet.

Multi-role Asset

With highly increased detection range and over 11 hours of operational endurance, GlobalEye AEW&C is perfectly suited to fulfil the most demanding operational requirements. Particularly since it has the ability to detect low-observable air targets in heavy clutter and jamming conditions and can also detect and track maritime targets out to the elevated horizon and small jet-ski or RIB sized vessels at very long distances. It can operate in dedicated roles or in a multitude of combined roles and has the ability to instantly switch between these roles (swing-role) at any time during an on-going mission.

The complete sensor suite of the GlobalEye AEW&C lets you detect and identify threats in all three domains. Crowned by the Erieye ER (Extended Range) radar, the suite also consists of maritime surveillance radar, electro-optical sensor, ESM/ELINT, AIS, and IFF/ADS-B. It’s a unique sensor suite combined with a modern, human-centric command and control system.

Together with swing-role capabilities, GlobalEye is a surveillance solution that ensures quick and accurate coverage of vast distances of air, sea or land, with the ability to switch between surveillance areas in an instant. What’s more, it can carry out multiple missions simultaneously.

The Global 6000/6500 aircraft from Bombardier adds over 11 hours of operational endurance, state-of-the-art avionics, and ideal working conditions for all crew-members, making it perfectly suited for AEW&C missions.

Enhancing the radar detection range gives more airspace coverage and earlier detection and identification of threats. For an air commander, this is crucial. More time to decide and act means better chance of maintaining air supremacy. For naval and army commanders it means ease of mind, letting them focus on naval and land warfare operations respectively. At the same time, GlobalEye provides them with situational awareness beyond their own sensors.

It can also provide positive identification of naval threats by utilising on-board EOS/IOS imaging and strategic ground moving target indication (GMTI) over battle areas. Furthermore, GlobalEye allows to optimise actions, and maximise the forces’ operational performance, pushing the boundaries of what it is possible to achieve.

GlobalEye is known in the UAE as the Swing Role Surveillance System (SRSS). It brings extended detection range, endurance and the ability to perform multiple roles, including tasks such as search and rescue, border surveillance and advanced warning of military threats.

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