Singapore Airshow 2016: Saab to provide weapon, battle system for Indonesia's 'tank boat'

* minsera.blogspot.com * • The Indonesian government has ordered a prototype of the X18 fire support vessel

• Vessel will be used to evaluate platform's suitability ahead of a proper acquisition programme

Swedish defence company Saab will be providing a remote-controlled weapon system and a battle management system for a prototype of the X18 fire support vessel (FSV) being acquired by the Indonesian Ministry of Defence, the company told IHS Jane's on 18 February at the Singapore Airshow 2016.

The X18 FSV, more commonly referred to as the 'tank boat', is an 18 m platform concept that has been developed by Indonesian shipbuilder PT Lundin. A model of the platform was unveiled at the IndoDefence 2014 exhibition in Jakarta.

"The prototype will be collaboration among Indonesian defence industries and some foreign suppliers", said Peter Carlqvist, Saab's vice-president and head of the company's Indonesia office. "Saab will be supplying the Trackfire remote weapon station and a variant of our company's battle system", he said, adding that the product will be similar to the company's 9LV combat management system.

The platform has an overall beam of 6.1 m, a draught of 0.9 m and a top speed of 30 kt. With a fuel capacity of 6,000 litres, the X18 has a standard range of 350 n miles at 25 kt and 900 n miles at 9 kt. The FSV's primary weapon will be a Cockerill 105 mm high-pressure gun provided by Belgian company CMI Defence.

Although a contract for the prototype has not been formalised, the Ministry of Defence has given approval for the vessel's construction to commence. "We should expect a formal contract very soon", said Carlqvist who added that the completed prototype is scheduled to be tested in about 24 months' time.

source: http://www.janes.com/article/58133/singapore-airshow-2016-saab-to-provide-weapon-battle-system-for-indonesia-s-tank-boat

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SINGAPORE: Saab introduces GlobalEye AEW aircraft

* Minsera.blogspot.com * Saab has officially launched a new airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft called GlobalEye, combining its new Erieye ER active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar with Bombardier's Global 6000 business jet.

It means the wider market will now be offered the same configuration as ordered by the United Arab Emirates under a $1.27 billion two-aircraft deal signed during Dubai air show in November.

“We have a completely new platform but also a completely new radar. The radar has an extremely high capacity compared to the old one, so the performance is enhanced,” says Erik Winberg, director of business development at Saab.

Erieye has previously been offered on the Embraer 145, Saab 2000 and Saab 340, but the new Global 6000 configuration will provide the highest altitude and longest endurance of them all: it is able to fly at up to 30,000ft for 11h.

“This is a swing-role capability that can work in the air, land and maritime domain. We can do any sort of surveillance in those three domains,” Winberg says.

GlobalEye offers a 70% increase in radar performance, and is being offered with three layers of capability: the baseline AESA and C2 system, which can be used for air, land and sea surveillance, and includes electronic intelligence and electronic support measures; an additional infrared and sea search layer; and a further signals intelligence (SIGINT) system.

“We think that no other system available has so many sensors on-board the one aircraft,” Winberg says.

“The reason for the different combinations is that different customers have different needs depending on the assets of that country. If they already have a lot of other assets in maritime or ground capabilities, for example, then they might prefer SIGINT because it better suits their concept of operations.”

In addition to the launch customer, Saab is seeing interest in other areas of the Middle East, plus Asia and Europe, Winberg says.

Source: https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/singapore-saab-introduces-globaleye-aew-aircraft-421899/

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