The Swedish defence manufacturer Saab has announced it will publicly showcase its new Deployment Set configuration for the Giraffe 1X radar air defence system at the Defence Equipment and Security International (DSEI) 2023 exhibition at London’s ExCel centre next week.
This reconfiguration will make the system easily transported, swiftly re-located and quickly operational; all desirable uses for when air threats pose a real risk to a stationary system installed at a fixed location.
The additional infrastructure is an easily deployable, compact and robust software-based 3D AESA radar. Its small signature and large search volume (75km) makes it ideal for urgent operations when a force is short of options on the battlefield.
“We are constantly pushing the limits to give operational forces time to act,” stated Carl-Johan Bergholm, head of Saab’s business area surveillance.
Saab’s adaptable radar provides commander with quality air defence target data, drone detection for counter-UAS, and sense and warn capability for rockets as well as artillery and mortar. Giraffe 1X offers continuous software upgrades to meet emerging threats.
In May, the UK Ministry of Defence signed two contracts for eleven Giraffe 1X radars for a cost of Skr264m ($25.7m).
Saab’s ambitious global growth
Recently, Saab has been on a campaign to strengthen its presence in emerging tech markets. Only last week the company purchased the British artificial intelligence enabled systems provider Bluebear.
The parent company is keen to exploit disruptive technologies such as AI, which will be worth $52bn in 2024, up from $28bn in 2019 the data consultancy GlobalData estimates. Saab says it wants to secure its presence in disruptive, global markets including Australia, Germany, the UK and US.
Saab’s growing technological expertise enhances its portfolio of products for the fast-paced changes seen in an increasingly autonomous defence industry.
From this perspective, Saab’s business strategy renders its Deployable Set for the Giraffe 1X to be icing on the cake as the company comes out with greater concept development, affirming Bergholm’s claim that Saab has the potential to ‘push its limits’ right now.
