Swedish Air Force Buys Another Global Jet 6000 Variant for Airborne C2

Saab signed a deal with the Swedish Defence Material Administration to deliver another GlobalEye AEW&C aircraft, reminding the industry at large that there are some pretty affordable options for airborne early warning systems.

Saab will deliver another aircraft along the same lines as its 2 previously delivered planes, which were sold to the Swedish Air Force to replace their older Saab 340 AEW aircraft. That deal went through in June of 2022, and the SAF has liked their GlobalEye's performance enough to add a third. The delivery will span 2024 to 2029, for a total value of €250 million. The 

“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,” said Micael Johansson, President and CEO of Saab.   

Like its predecessor, the Saab builds on a successful aircraft with the addition of a host of sensors, comms, and data links. The new GlobalEye is built on Bombardier's Global 6000 business jet, providing a solid baseline of endurance, small field performance, and economy while tackling a mission often reserved for larger narrowbody aircraft. 

The cornerstone of Saab's GlobalEye is its unique Erieye Extended Range Radar system, which does more than just lend a more handsome appearance. 

The Erieye suite sits in place of its competitor's ungainly AWACS radomes, replacing the large dishes with a rectangular bar that runs along the fuselage. It's slick and technical looking, cutting down on drag and improving range and endurance. A similar setup on the Saab 340 AEW&C did see some loss of coverage compared to a full radome, missing out on the regions directly along the longitudinal axis, but that's more a planning issue than a shortcoming. Some small radar dead zones are likely a small price to pay for operators who value economy and efficiency enough to opt for a smaller aircraft like a GlobalEye to begin with. The Erieye works with a maritime surveillance radar to let operators detect targets the size of a periscope, or pick out jet skis from hundreds of miles away.

FMI: www.saab.com