Aircraft
Saab Unveils GlobalEye
The first of three multi-role/AEW aircraft for the UAE is shown for the first time
The first GlobalEye multi-sensor AEW/surveillance platform was unveiled to the media at Linköping today. (Photo: David Donald)
The first GlobalEye multi-sensor AEW/surveillance platform was unveiled to the media at Linköping today. (Photo: David Donald)

Saab lifted the lid on its GlobalEye “swing-role surveillance system” multi-sensor platform in a ceremony held at the company’s Linköping, Sweden, plant on Friday. The aircraft is the first of three on order for the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Air Force and Air Defence. An order for the first pair was placed in November 2015 and a third was added in February 2017.

Company officials were reticent to provide any details about a projected first flight date, but the first aircraft is essentially complete with systems installed. All of the mission equipment has been tested in an integrated ground test rig, and flight tests will be undertaken primarily to validate laboratory projected figures rather than to test whether the systems work. Ground tests will precede flight tests, in which the first phase will focus on aircraft handling and systems.