Aircraft
First GlobalEye Handed Over to the UAE
Saab has delivered the first of three GlobalEye swing-role surveillance systems to the United Arab Emirates on schedule.
The first GlobalEye to be handed over to the UAE is seen on a test flight over Sweden. (Photo: Saab)
The first GlobalEye to be handed over to the UAE is seen on a test flight over Sweden. (Photo: Saab)

On April 29, the first GlobalEye multi-sensor aircraft for the United Arab Emirates Air Force and Air Defense (UAE AFAD) landed in Abu Dhabi to be handed over to the customer. Leaving Sweden on the evening of the 28th, it arrived in the Gulf nation after a scheduled stop in Bulgaria. The aircraft, which was the second GlobalEye to fly, operated as SE-RMZ while being tested in Sweden. Tests are ongoing with two more of the GlobalEye swing-role surveillance platforms GlobalEyes in preparation for handover. The first aircraft to fly is likely to be the last to be delivered, as it was heavily instrumented for flight tests and requires additional work to bring it to operational standard.