Saab is launching a family of surveillance aircraft based on its Saab 2000 and 340 turboprop regional airliners, it announced at the show yesterday.
Saab already produces the Erieye airborne early warning and control aircraft based on the Saab 2000 for Pakistan and a version mounted on the 340 for the Royal Swedish Air Force.
It now also plans to offer a 340 maritime security aircraft (MSA), a 2000 maritime patrol aircraft (MPA) and 2000 signal surveillance, targeting, acquisition and reconnaissance (SIGSTAR) aircraft. All types will have ESM and a self-protection system.
Saab will make use of the portfolio of both types held by its leasing arm. The company owns around half of the 58 2000s produced, plus around 110 340s.
“These aircraft are in demand. It’s definitely not a case of Saab having to find something else to do with the aircraft,” says Matthew Smith, Saab’s director of marketing, airborne surveillance arena.
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“There have been a lot of market enquiries,” he adds. “What we’re seeing more and more is countries realising that these products are more affordable and capable than they thought.”
A Saab 2000 MPA could typically fly out to the edge of a 200nm EEZ, stay on station for more than 5h at 2,000ft (600m), recover to base with 45m reserves and still divert to another airfield 100nm away.
Source: Flight International
