JUSTIN WASTNAGE / LONDON
Swedish radar supplier Ericsson Microwave Systems may add a ground surveillance mode to its Erieye airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) system as it gears up for future campaigns.
The company says plans to develop a ground moving-target indicator for the long-range phased-array pulse-Doppler radar have been discussed with the Swedish air force and depend on the results of a strategic defence review due in the final quarter of this year. "It is the government's intention that the Swedish air force undertakes more collaborative international missions, and that might call for the upgrade of [the Saab 340B-mounted] radar," says Bertil Hellström, Ericsson Microwave Systems' vice-president for international business development. Ericsson says it adds new sensors for each new competition, but the addition of a ground mode would be a "major step forward".
Two Erieye-equipped Embraer EMB-145Hs for the Greek air force arrived last week in Halmstad, Sweden for systems integration tests before delivery in the final quarter.
Ericsson expects sales of around 12-16 systems over the next five years, says Hellström. The Erieye-equipped EMB-145H is seen as a strong contender for the Malaysian and South Korean AEW&C competitions and Hellström says there are also several other promising competitions in the offing.
Source: Flight International
