The accelerated introduction of Sweden’s first GlobalEye surveillance aircraft will be made with the Saab-prepared asset entering use in an interim configuration, officials have confirmed.
Stockholm ordered two of the heavily adapted Bombardier Global 6000s – which will be equipped with Saab’s above-fuselage-mounted Erieye ER radar – in June 2022. A contract for a third followed two years later, after Sweden pledged to donate its two earlier-generation Saab 340 airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft to Ukraine.
At that time, Sweden’s defence ministry said shipments of the new S 106 system – originally scheduled to run from 2027 – would be “expedited”, without elaborating.
“It will arrive quicker, but I will not say exactly when,” Brigadier General Lars Helmrich, director of the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration’s (FMV’s) air and space systems directorate, says of the lead aircraft’s introduction. “We have split the delivery in two steps,” he adds.
“We need capability first, and then we will get the full capability later,” explains Swedish air force chief of staff Major General Jonas Wikman.
“It will be way better than the current ones,” Wikman said during a media briefing in Paris on 15 June, referring to two Erieye radar-equipped Saab 340s already donated to Kyiv by the Swedish government. “But it will need to be modified again to be what was the intention from the beginning,” he adds.
Neither the air force or FMV have detailed the planned interim configuration for the GlobalEye: a type which in addition to performing AEW&C duties also can simultaneously monitor land-based and maritime threats.
Meanwhile, Wikman reveals that the air force’s dispersed operating model will also be employed during the use of its future surveillance aircraft.
“Our concept to operate GlobalEye is based on our being able to move our assets when we need to… to not have them in harm’s way,” he says. “It’s moveable by design: we will rotate and operate from multiple locations.”
Saab in late May announced a plan to increase its conversion capacity to four jets per year for the GlobalEye platform, which for new customers will employ the Global 6500 airframe.
That move was followed during the Paris air show by a French air force selection covering two aircraft and two options. Paris intends to acquire the GlobalEyes to begin replacing its aged Boeing E-3F airborne warning and control system aircraft.
On 20 June, Canadian airframer Bombardier announced its receipt of a firm order from Saab to deliver two Global 6500s for conversion to the multi-role surveillance configuration, without naming the end-recipient.
The accelerated introduction of Sweden’s first GlobalEye surveillance aircraft will be made with the Saab-prepared asset entering use in an interim configuration, officials have confirmed.
Stockholm ordered two of the heavily adapted Bombardier Global 6000s – which will be equipped with Saab’s above-fuselage-mounted Erieye ER radar – in June 2022. A contract for a third followed two years later, after Sweden pledged to donate its two earlier-generation Saab 340 airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft to Ukraine.
At that time, Sweden’s defence ministry said shipments of the new S 106 system – originally scheduled to run from 2027 – would be “expedited”, without elaborating.
“It will arrive quicker, but I will not say exactly when,” Brigadier General Lars Helmrich, director of the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration’s (FMV’s) air and space systems directorate, says of the lead aircraft’s introduction. “We have split the delivery in two steps,” he adds.
“We need capability first, and then we will get the full capability later,” explains Swedish air force chief of staff Major General Jonas Wikman.
“It will be way better than the current ones,” Wikman said during a media briefing in Paris on 15 June, referring to two Erieye radar-equipped Saab 340s already donated to Kyiv by the Swedish government. “But it will need to be modified again to be what was the intention from the beginning,” he adds.
Neither the air force or FMV have detailed the planned interim configuration for the GlobalEye: a type which in addition to performing AEW&C duties also can simultaneously monitor land-based and maritime threats.
Meanwhile, Wikman reveals that the air force’s dispersed operating model will also be employed during the use of its future surveillance aircraft.
“Our concept to operate GlobalEye is based on our being able to move our assets when we need to… to not have them in harm’s way,” he says. “It’s moveable by design: we will rotate and operate from multiple locations.”
Saab in late May announced a plan to increase its conversion capacity to four jets per year for the GlobalEye platform, which for new customers will employ the Global 6500 airframe.
That move was followed during the Paris air show by a French air force selection covering two aircraft and two options. Paris intends to acquire the GlobalEyes to begin replacing its aged Boeing E-3F airborne warning and control system aircraft.
On 20 June, Canadian airframer Bombardier announced its receipt of a firm order from Saab to deliver two Global 6500s for conversion to the multi-role surveillance configuration, without naming the end-recipient.
Source link
Share This:
admin
Plan the perfect NYC Memorial Day weekend
Pack only what you need and avoid overpacking to streamline the check-in and security screening…
LA’s worst traffic areas and how to avoid them
Consider using alternative routes, such as Sepulveda Boulevard, which runs parallel to the 405 in…
Denmark, Germany and NATO among sales prospects for GlobalEye surveillance aircraft, Saab chief executive says
European interest in Saab’s GlobalEye surveillance aircraft is continuing to build, as the Swedish company…
Ukraine exploring purchase of Bell AH-1Z attack and UH-1Y utility helicopters
Ukraine has signed a letter of intent with rotorcraft manufacturer Bell exploring the purchase of…
Italy plans to restore lapsed maritime patrol capability with six-aircraft buy
Italy has outlined plans to acquire six new maritime patrol aircraft capable of performing anti-submarine…
Stockholm Arlanda takes advantage of ‘EoR’ concept to increase parallel approach efficiency
Stockholm Arlanda is claiming to be the first European airport to introduce a concept intended…
Norway presses ahead with defence helicopter acquisitions, as talks continue with UK on ASW assets
Norway continues to analyse the options for a future anti-submarine warfare (ASW) helicopter to equip…
Airbus Helicopters open to H225 Super Puma’s return for oil and gas operations
Airbus Helicopters is seeing renewed interest in its H225 Super Puma for offshore operations, almost…
Baykar’s Kizilelma UCAV soars through Aselsan AESA radar integration and weapons testing
Baykar Technologies’ Kizilelma unmanned combat air vehicle has been flown for the first time with…
First two Saab Gripen E fighters arrive for Swedish air force service at Satenas base
The Swedish air force has fielded its first Saab Gripen E fighters, with the new…
EASA foresees sufficient production capacity to meet EU’s 2030 sustainable fuel target
Sustainable aviation fuel in the European Union only accounted for 0.6% of the total uplift…
Regional aircraft lessor TrueNoord to advise Elysian on development of battery-powered E9X
Netherlands-based Elysian Aircraft is to collaborate with regional aircraft lessor TrueNoord on the development of…