Saab Giraffe 1X

History

Saab Giraffe 1X is a compact three-dimensional surveillance radar developed in Sweden for short-range air surveillance and ground-based air defence. It can provide target data, detect unmanned aircraft, and support counter-rocket, artillery and mortar warning tasks.

Saab introduced Giraffe 1X and the related Sea Giraffe 1X in May 2014. The system was designed around a small integration footprint, low weight and low power demand so that it could be installed on light vehicles, fixed structures and other platforms.

By 2026 Giraffe 1X had been ordered by multiple countries and was being supplied for short-range air-defence and counter-UAS applications. A Compact Radar Module configuration was also photographed at a Saudi Arabian air-defence site in August 2026, although no Saudi procurement announcement had been reported.

Development

Giraffe 1X was introduced as a lightweight member of Saab's Giraffe radar family. It was developed as a multi-mission sensor able to support ground-based air-defence commanders while remaining sufficiently compact for rapid movement and integration on comparatively small platforms. Saab describes the radar as capable of simultaneous air surveillance, ground-based air-defence target acquisition, and rocket, artillery and mortar sense-and-warn functions. Further information is available from the Saab Giraffe 1X product page.

In September 2023 Saab launched the Giraffe 1X Deployment Set, intended to simplify transportation, redeployment and preparation for operation while retaining the radar's compact footprint. In June 2024 Saab unveiled the Compact Radar Module, or CRM, as another configuration intended to make the radar easier to transport and deploy.

Orders and deliveries

Saab has announced Giraffe 1X orders associated with Denmark, France, Latvia, Lithuania, Sweden and the United Kingdom. One announced order was placed on behalf of Ukraine. In October 2025 Saab also announced that the US Army had ordered Giraffe 1X radars worth about USD 46 million for an unidentified US security cooperation partner, with deliveries scheduled from 2026.

By May 2026 Saab had announced that 100 Giraffe 1X radars had been ordered. On 3 July 2026 the company said that 60 systems had been delivered during the preceding 60 days.

On 27 August 2026 the Saudi Ministry of Defence released a photograph showing a Giraffe 1X at an air-defence site in the Al-Sulayyil area during a visit by Royal Saudi Air Defence Forces commander Lieutenant General Maziad al-Amro. The radar was installed on the bed of a pickup truck and was identified as the Compact Radar Module configuration. The photograph represented the first publicly reported appearance of the system in Saudi Arabia, but a Saudi order had not been publicly announced according to Janes.

Design

Giraffe 1X is a compact three-dimensional radar intended for tactical surveillance. Saab states that the complete system weighs less than 150 kg, while the topside equipment weighs about 100 kg. The radar can be integrated with mobile platforms or fixed structures and can be operated either locally or remotely.

The system is designed to cover its complete search volume every second. Its automatic tracking function provides target information for air-defence command systems and other connected users. Saab states that the radar can detect fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft, fast missiles, rocket, artillery and mortar targets, and small unmanned aircraft in environments with substantial clutter.

The radar can operate as a mobile, deployable or fixed asset. Saab states that a complete system can be transported on a pickup-sized vehicle, carried by helicopter, towed on a trailer, installed permanently on a building or mast, or integrated into a suitable vehicle.

Air-defence role

Giraffe 1X is intended to serve as a sensor rather than an independent weapon. It can provide engagement-quality target data to ground-based air-defence systems and can be used as the primary radar for very-short-range air defence. It can also supplement larger air-defence networks as a gap-filling sensor.

The radar can combine air surveillance with target acquisition and counter-rocket, artillery and mortar warning. It is also intended for counter-UAS missions involving the detection of low, slow and small aerial targets. Saab provides interfaces for integration with weapon systems and tactical data links.

Radar characteristics

Published descriptions identify Giraffe 1X as a compact active electronically scanned array radar. An independent technical description gives an instrumentation range of up to 75 km for the land-based system and notes that it can be used from fixed or mobile installations. Additional technical background is available from Army Technology.

Another published description identifies the radar as operating in X-band and describes 360-degree surveillance with the complete search volume refreshed every second. It also describes the system's role in air surveillance, target acquisition, counter-UAS operations and rocket, artillery and mortar warning. These characteristics are summarized by The Defense Post.

Program status

Giraffe 1X was in production and international delivery by 2026. Saab had publicly identified customers or procurement arrangements involving several European countries and had announced a US Army order for an unidentified security cooperation partner.

The appearance of a Compact Radar Module in Saudi Arabia in August 2026 confirmed the physical presence of a Giraffe 1X in the country. The available information did not establish whether Saudi Arabia had purchased the radar, whether it belonged to another organization, or whether it was present under another arrangement.

Variants

• Giraffe 1X: Compact land-based three-dimensional surveillance radar for short-range air surveillance, ground-based air defence, counter-UAS missions, and rocket, artillery and mortar warning.
• Giraffe 1X Deployment Set: Configuration introduced in September 2023 for easier transportation, rapid redeployment and faster preparation for operation.
• Compact Radar Module: More transportable Giraffe 1X configuration unveiled in June 2024. A CRM installation mounted on a pickup truck was photographed in Saudi Arabia in August 2026.
• Sea Giraffe 1X: Maritime member of the Giraffe 1X family introduced alongside the land-based system in 2014.

Specifications (Giraffe 1X)

General characteristics

• Type: Three-dimensional short-range surveillance radar
• Radar technology: Active electronically scanned array
• Frequency band: X-band
• Total system weight: Less than 150 kg
• Topside weight: Approximately 100 kg
• Deployment: Mobile, deployable or fixed
• Operation: Local or remote

Performance

• Instrumentation range: Up to 75 km for the land-based radar according to published technical descriptions
• Surveillance coverage: Complete search volume refreshed every second

Functions

• Air surveillance: Detection and tracking of fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, missiles and small unmanned aircraft
• Ground-based air defence: Engagement-quality target data and target acquisition
• Counter-UAS: Detection of low, slow and small aerial targets
• C-RAM: Rocket, artillery and mortar sense-and-warn capability
• Integration: Interfaces for weapon systems and tactical data links