Saab Wins €61.5m Radar Order

Swedish defence and aerospace firm Saab has won a contract from the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) to supply its ten of its Giraffe 1X KRR short-range radar systems to equip its Ground Based Air Defence (GBAD) units.

As per a recent Saab press statement, the deal runs until 2027 and the value of the order has been estimated at about SEK 700 million, or just over €61.5 million.

The order includes Saab’s Giraffe 1X radar, associated command and control systems and its integration onto Sisu GTP armoured vehicles. The system's mast is folded down during transport, then can be automatically extended when in use, meaning its operators don't have to leave the safety of the armoured vehicle and expose themselves to fire or shrapnel.

As per the FMV, delivery of the system will start in 2025. Christer Mellgren, project manager at FMV, commented: "The acquisition of KRR meets a long-awaited need for additional sensors in the Armed Forces. Mounting the radar on a splinter-protected SISU vehicle is an effective solution that also increases survivability."

The Giraffe 1X is designed to be a highly mobile radar system that can be mounted on small vehicles or vessels, or on fixed installations like a building or a mast. It weighs less than 300 kg, and supplies air defence target data, including drone detection for counter-UAS measures. It also features a sense-and-warn feature which can simultaneously detect incoming rockets, artillery and mortars.

Carl-Johan Bergholm, head of Saab’s Surveillance arm, commented: “I am proud that Sweden chooses to integrate our versatile surface radar Giraffe 1X as a part of its ground based air defence.

"Our solution will contribute to strengthening Sweden’s ground based air defence capability and to protecting the forces with advanced capability to detect and identify threats while on the battlefield.”

• You can read more details on the Saab website and the FMV website