Giraffe Extends Its Reach To Latin America

Saab’s Giraffe 4A radar systems are set to be deployed in Latin America for the first time.
Saab’s Giraffe 4A radar systems are set to be deployed in Latin America for the first time. Image: Saab

Defence firm Saab has bagged a £43.5 million deal to supply its Giraffe 4A radar systems to Latin America for the first time.

The Swedish firm announced via a recent press statement that it had secured a contract with an unnamed Latin American country, in an agreement with a financial value estimated at roughly SEK 550 million (about £43.45m).

The multi-functional radar system is set to enhance the customer’s land-based air surveillance capabilities. It can identify and track a high number of objects simultaneously across both land and sea domains and software-based updates are easily installed as and when they become desirable or required.

The Giraffe family of passive electronically scanned array radars take their name from their distinctive folding masts which when deployed allows the systems to see over nearby terrain features such as trees, extending range against low-level air targets.

The 4A system can be transported by air if required in a single C-130 load and can be deployed by two people in under ten minutes. It can operate as a standalone, or as part of a larger networked system

Head of Saab’s Surveillance business sector Carl-Johan Bergholm commented: “We are proud to announce the first contract of the land-based Giraffe 4A to Latin America.

“This milestone marks a significant step in expanding our presence in the region with advanced medium range radar. This capability will provide our customer with state-of-the-art air surveillance capability.”

The latest announcement follows on from news in June when it was announced the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) has ordered a series of Giraffe 4A radar systems in a contract worth about £110 million (about SEK 1.4 billion).

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