The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has awarded Saab a $190-million contract to provide in-service support for its GlobalEye Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) aircraft.
As part of the multimillion-dollar deal, the Swedish firm will provide maintenance and logistics support, along with training services, for a period of three years.
According to Saab official Carl-Johan Bergholm, the contract will solidify the company’s role in ensuring that the GlobalEye AEW&C remains mission-ready for years to come.
“We look forward to further strengthening our partnership with the UAE Air Force and Air Defence and providing long-term local support,” he said in a press release.
The UAE is the first operator of the multi-domain surveillance platform, having received its first aircraft in April 2020.
Providing Enhanced Situational Awareness
First launched in 2016, Saab’s GlobalEye is based on the Bombardier Global 6000 aircraft.
It offers long-range detection and identification of objects, thanks to an array of active and passive sensors.
The AEW&C aircraft also has an advanced radar that can track aerial targets of any size, including small waterborne craft, submarine periscopes, or cruise missiles.
It boasts a maximum endurance of 11 hours, and can operate from short runways.
The latest contract with Saab is expected to bolster the capabilities of the GlobalEye, allowing it to provide enhanced situational awareness for the UAE Air Force.