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US to Protect Air Bases Against Ballistic Threats with Saab's Advanced Giraffe 4A Radar Systems.
On December 11, 2024, Saab announced that it had secured a $48 million contract from BAE Systems for the delivery of multiple Giraffe 4A radars to the United States Air Forces in Europe. Deliveries of these advanced radar systems are scheduled to begin in 2027, enhancing air defense and surveillance capabilities for U.S. forces operating in the European theater.
Saab Giraffe 4A Radars Air Defense System (Picture source: SAAB)
The contract announced on December 11, 2024, builds on a long-standing collaboration between Saab and the U.S. military. This partnership dates back to 2005, when Saab began providing Giraffe-series radars for testing and integration in the U.S. In 2014, Saab secured a major contract for the Giraffe AMB, deployed to strengthen air surveillance at American bases in conflict zones. In 2019, cooperation deepened with an agreement focused on modernizing radar detection systems in expeditionary environments. This latest agreement for Giraffe 4A radars represents a key milestone in the collaboration, incorporating cutting-edge technological advancements to meet the growing strategic needs of U.S. forces deployed in Europe. It underscores a strategic partnership founded on Saab’s reliability and performance.
The Giraffe 4A radar is a state-of-the-art digital multifunction system employing Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) technology. Renowned for its highly mobile and versatile configuration, this technology delivers long-range surveillance and comprehensive air base defense. Erik Smith, President and CEO of Saab in the U.S., emphasized the importance of this system, stating, "The Giraffe 4A will modernize the U.S. Air Force’s expeditionary combat airfield surveillance operations and enhance detection capabilities, addressing a critical need overseas."
The Giraffe 4A radar integrates AESA technology, providing 3D long-range surveillance with 360-degree coverage. Designed for rapid and accurate threat detection, it boasts a maximum range of 300 kilometers for conventional aerial targets and can simultaneously track hundreds of threats, including drones, missiles, and high-speed aircraft. Highly mobile, it can be mounted on land or maritime platforms and features advanced multi-channel digital processing, ensuring resilience against electronic jamming. Its modular architecture facilitates integration into existing defense systems, while its rapid deployment capability makes it an essential asset for expeditionary operations. With standalone or networked functionality, the Giraffe 4A addresses the demands of modern combat environments.
Thanks to its innovative multi-channel digital architecture, the Giraffe 4A offers robust surveillance capabilities to meet modern air defense requirements. The radars will be manufactured and delivered by Saab teams based in the United States and Sweden, ensuring cutting-edge technical expertise and operational excellence. This technology represents a major leap in radar performance, enabling more effective detection, tracking, and management of potential aerial threats.
In the event of an aerial attack, the Giraffe 4A radar acts as an advanced sentinel, quickly detecting and identifying threats within its operational range. Using AESA technology, it continuously scans the airspace over a 360-degree field of view, with a maximum range of 300 kilometers. When a missile, drone, or hostile aircraft enters its detection zone, the radar captures its signal, analyzes its trajectory, and relays precise real-time information to a command center or directly to defense systems.
The radar can prioritize threats, such as a rapidly approaching ballistic missile, over less dangerous objects like civilian aircraft. Its advanced multi-channel processing allows it to track hundreds of targets simultaneously, even in saturated or electronically jammed environments. Once a threat is confirmed, the data is used to trigger a response, such as launching surface-to-air missiles or coordinating with air units to neutralize the attack.
This automated and rapid process provides operators with a clear situational overview and critical reaction time to protect infrastructure or troops. To an observer, the radar functions as an "electronic eye" that detects invisible dangers, ensuring immediate and effective responses to aerial threats.
The development of the Giraffe 4A radar system builds on decades of Saab’s expertise in surveillance and air defense technologies. Designed in the early 2010s, this radar incorporates the latest AESA technology for fast and precise detection of modern threats. First unveiled in 2015, the Giraffe 4A has been adopted by several armed forces, including those of Sweden, the United Kingdom, and Australia, attracted by its mobility and high performance. Since then, Saab has continued to enhance the system, particularly its multi-channel digital processing and integration into complex operational environments, meeting the specific needs of military users worldwide.
In addition to Saab, several companies have developed radar systems similar to the Giraffe 4A, incorporating advanced technologies for surveillance and air defense. Thales introduced the Ground Master 400 (GM400) in 2008, an AESA system offering 3D long-range surveillance, adopted by France and Canada. Lockheed Martin launched the AN/TPQ-53 in 2010, a mobile radar designed to detect and track aerial threats like drones and missiles. Raytheon’s iconic Patriot Radar AN/MPQ-65, integrated into the Patriot defense system since the 1980s, has undergone continuous improvements to intercept ballistic missiles. More recently, in 2016, Leonardo unveiled the Kronos Grand Mobile High Power (GMHP), a multifunction radar capable of managing complex electronic warfare environments, used by several European countries. These systems, developed at key moments in technological evolution, illustrate the ongoing race for innovation to meet the growing demands for air defense and global surveillance.