Saab has launched its land-based Giraffe 1X radar in the United States market.
The new, compact radar system, which offers advanced capabilities against small targets and the capacity to address multiple threat types, will address the emerging requirements of the maneuver force.
The Sweden-based company also plans to transfer Giraffe 1X intellectual property to Saab Defense and Security USA, its U.S.-based subsidiary, with the intention of meeting U.S. market needs efficiently, effectively and securely.
“We have already shown a unique ability to deliver our products into sensitive programs, such as the AN/SPS-77 on the U.S. Navy’s Littoral Combat Ship Program,” said Erik Smith, head of Saab Defense and Security USA.
“But this move goes one step further. Transferring the intellectual property to a U.S. company and creating a U.S based development track for this system, will tremendously benefit the U.S. warfighter and taxpayer respectively by accelerating capability to the field and reducing costs and risk.”
The decision to transfer the technology was made to address U.S. security and information assurance requirements, facilitate U.S. sourcing of components, and, in the long term, create more U.S. jobs.
Saab has invested significant private research and development funding into Giraffe 1X, which offers short-range air defense, sense-and-warn capabilities, and counter-UAS (unmanned aerial systems) and counter-RAM (rocket, artillery and mortar) functions.
• 12 stacked beams
• Elevation coverage: 0°-70°
• Scanning rate 60 rpm
According to Smith, the Giraffe 1X addresses a growing need among U.S. ground troops.
“Opposition capabilities are increasing, which means U.S. ground troops need a reliable, accurate system that can detect, track and classify multiple threat types,” explained Mr. Smith. “Giraffe 1X meets that requirement.”
The Giraffe 1X is mountable on vehicles, vessels and fixed installations, such as a building or a mast. Its compact, mobile design leverages commercial components in an open-architecture solution built on Saab’s Giraffe family of radars.
This product group includes the Giraffe AMB, which has been used in Iraq to protect U.S. personnel against RAM threats since 2008.
Saab Defense and Security USA LLC delivers advanced technologies and systems to the United States Armed Forces and other government agencies. Headquartered in Ashburn, Virginia, the company has business units and local employees in four states. Saab Defense and Security USA is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Saab Group.
Saab Group serves the global market with world-leading products, services and solutions within military defense and civil security. Saab has operations and employees on all continents around the world. Through innovative, collaborative and pragmatic thinking, Saab develops, adopts and improves new technology to meet customers’ changing needs.
