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Saab GlobalEye

2019 MODERN AIRCRAFT

History of Saab GlobalEye

The Canadian Bombardier Global 6000 ("Global Express" series) twin-engined corporate body forms the basis for the new "GlobalEye" platform currently under development, designated by the traditional Swedish Saab Group. The aircraft is designed for airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) missions with a focus on battle space management.

The special mission platform made its maiden flight from Linkoping, Sweden, on March 14, 2018, enabling advanced program deliveries to begin in 2019 as scheduled.

The plane retains much of the form and function of the sleek Global 6000 Bizjet, the key physical additions are the various antenna/sensor protrusions on the back, and the sleek oblong radar array overhead - this is the Saab inside" Erieye' ER (Extended Range) airborne early warning radar (an all-weather system capable of tracking moving targets as small as ships). The blister box - containing the Leonardo "Seaspray" 7500E Sea Survival Radar and Electro-Optic Infrared (EOIR) sensor - is also below along the belly line of the hull. The main wing of the aircraft is swept back and mounted low on the side of the fuselage, while on top are the fuel-efficient winglets that are common on many commercial platforms today.

As usual, the cockpit is located at the front of the aircraft (where the two crew members sit side by side), and the further passenger area is dedicated to a series of mission-oriented consoles operated by specially trained operators. The sides of the hull are dotted with several traditional porthole-style windows. The tail has a vertical fin with a T-shaped arrangement on the horizontal plane.

There are also smaller vertical elements set above and below these levels. The large girdle can be seen below the tail unit. The second engine is located outside the rear of the fuselage.

Other critical systems include SATCOM support, full Countermeasures (CM) customization (at the stern), Electronic Intelligence (ELINT) capabilities, protected data links for communication with allied aircraft and ground stations, and IFF ( Identify friends or - enemies).

GlobalEye launched in late February 2018, with the expected launch customer being the United Arab Emirates, which signed a contract for three devices back in November 2015.

The AEW&C platform was once the exclusive domain of large defense players such as the US and the UK, but it is increasingly becoming an affordable object for smaller military powers, largely due to the deployment of business jets that support airframe transitions into battlefield roles ( both a cost reduction and an obligation to save development time).

The GobalEye platform will provide land and sea capabilities - representing vastly different operational environments - and will provide a critical "eye to the sky" for even the most modest global air force. The system will be able to simultaneously find and track multiple air, land and sea targets up to 250 miles away.

The aircraft can linger on the battlefield for up to 11 hours and offers excellent endurance. Operators are provided with basic amenities such as ergonomic seating, a seating area for six and soundproofing in the cabin.