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Saab 2000

1994 MODERN AIRCRAFT

Saab 2000 Years History

The Saab Type 2000 was created by the company in the late 1980s to offer a longer version of the Saab 340 series with twin turboprop engines on the market. The aircraft itself was born in the 1970s, completed its maiden flight in January 1983, and entered service the following year. The design proved relatively commercial success, with approximately 459 examples completed (the line is still in use). From this framework, an extended version was developed that could carry more passengers while still maintaining the high performance of the 340 on short to medium regional routes. The Type 2000 project started in 1989 and eventually involved parts suppliers in the UK, Finland and Spain.

Starting at the gate, Saab has acquired a total of 46 aircraft, with a choice of 147 available through future customer orders.

As planned, the Model 2000 has two operators and a passenger capacity of between 50 and 58. Avionics Kits are Rockwell Collins ProLine 4 Series kits with Integrated Avionics Processor (IAP) capability. The cockpit offers side-by-side seating for two crew members, and the front dash is dominated by a large full-color display. Structurally, the aircraft has an overall length of 89.5 feet, a wingspan of 81.2 feet and a height of 25.3 feet. To compensate for the longer fuselage, the Model 2000 was fitted with wider wings for better control.

Curb weight is 30,425 lbs and maximum takeoff weight (MTOW) is 50,265 lbs.

Its layout is very traditional, with a cylindrical fuselage and a low-positioned straight-wing main aircraft. Each main aircraft has an engine nacelle that protrudes well beyond the leading edge of the wing. The cockpit is located aft of a short, sloping arcuate cone, providing excellent visibility from the cockpit. The tail consists of a vertical tail and a low-mounted horizontal plane.

A tricycle chassis with wheels is used for ground driving. The hull is dotted with round porthole-style windows for passengers, and rectangular access doors are entry and exit points.

Power comes from 2 4,152 hp (per shaft) Allison AE 2100A turboprop engines driving Dowty brand six-blade (constant speed) propellers. Performance includes a cruising speed of 425 miles per hour, a range of up to 1,550 miles and a service ceiling of 31,000 feet.

It has a reported climb rate of 2,250 feet per minute.

Variants of the Model 2000 series are few and far between. The regional airliner with up to 58 seats is called the Saab 2000 for short. Saab 2000FI is a flight inspection model produced for two examples of the Civil Aviation Authority of Japan (JCAB operates at the government level).

Current civilian market players can be found in the UK, US and Switzerland. Many have since abandoned the Model 2000 in favor of better alternatives.

The military-oriented form became the Saab 2000 AEW&C (Airborne Early Warning and Control), Saab 2000 "Air Tracker" SIGINT (Signals Intelligence) and Saab 2000 MPA (Maritime Patrol Aircraft) surface patrol platforms. The AEW&C form factor carries the Erieye Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar to better fulfill the role of air battle management.

The main military operators of the Type 2000 are the Pakistan Air Force and the Royal Saudi Air Force.

The Type 2000 failed to replicate the commercial success of the Type 340, in time to compete with models such as the Embraer ERJ145 and Canadas Bombardier CRJ series, ultimately hurting the Type 2000s global footprint. This in turn limited production of the series to 63 units from 1992 to 1999.

With its inherent reliability, speed and flexibility, the Saab 2000 is attracting growing interest from operators in the military field especially in the aforementioned mission support roles.