For the second time in four short years, Saab emerged as one of the surprise high fliers at the biennial Dubai air show – but its repeat sales success with the GlobalEye surveillance aircraft was just reward for a decade-plus relationship forged with the United Arab Emirates’ military.
For the second time in four short years, Saab emerged as one of the surprise high fliers at the biennial Dubai air show – but its repeat sales success with the GlobalEye surveillance aircraft was just reward for a decade-plus relationship forged with the United Arab Emirates’ military.
The main headlines around the Middle East’s pre-eminent industry gathering remain largely reserved for the big Airbus and Boeing commercial order announcements made with local carriers like Emirates and Etihad, while potential fighter requirements dominate in the defence sphere.
BillyPix
In 2013, huge show speculation around a possible UAE order for 60 Dassault Rafales or Eurofighter Typhoons came to nothing – as did subsequent talk of it taking additional Lockheed Martin F-16s.
But the UAE has thrown its procurement might fully into acquiring what will be an enviably sophisticated airborne surveillance capability. An almost $1.3 billion launch order for two Bombardier Global 6000-derived GlobalEyes signed in 2015 was boosted with a third airframe two years later, and now its fleet will be further expanded, to five, via new business worth around $1 billion more.
Sweden’s defence champion beat the likes of Boeing and Northrop Grumman in securing the UAE’s airborne early warning aircraft business thanks to its long relationship with the nation’s military forged via the entry-level, Erieye radar-equipped Saab 340. While bigger companies tried to sell a product, it worked with its customer to develop a better system, capable of performing simultaneous airborne, land and maritime surveillance.
In a region where Sweden opts not to market its Gripen fighter, Saab has quietly built a GlobalEye business already worth approaching $3 billion. Don’t count against it having further surprises at future Dubai shows.
