GlobalEye Redefines The Airborne Surveillance Market

Saab has developed a new generation of its Erieye airborne surveillance radar and
integrated it with the Bombardier Global 6000 aircraft. In combination with an all-new
command and control system (C2), a maritime surveillance radar, electronic warfare
system and tactical data links, this complete system is now available to customers as the
GlobalEye.

For the first time on the market Saab has developed an airborne surveillance system that is
truly multi-role. The advanced Erieye ER (Extended Range) radar is capable of operations in
air-to-air, air-to-ground and maritime modes; delivering complete detection and tracking of
targets across all three domains. The system can incorporate additional sensors that further
enhance its overland and overwater capabilities. It is this sophisticated mix of capabilities that
make the GlobalEye the world’s first multi-role and swing-role airborne surveillance system.

“The GlobalEye is not simply a new generation of the Erieye radar on a new platform. It is
completely new airborne surveillance system with air, maritime and ground capabilities in a
single solution. It combines the powerful new Erieye ER radar with a next-generation
mission system and the high-flying, ultra-long-range Global 6000 jet from Bombardier. This
is a unique combination that provides outstanding performance, in terms of multi-domain
operations, detection capability and mission endurance, all with new level of cost-effective
operation,” says Erik Winberg, Senior Director at Saab.

GlobalEye is a complete operational system that is already under contract and in production.
It incorporates a host of advances in technology but also experience and lessons learned from
the large fleet of Erieye airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft currently in
service around the world. Although the new Erieye ER system may look similar to its
predecessors, at least from the outside, it incorporates fundamental changes in design and
technology that have boosted its performance to an entirely new level.

“We have made substantial enhancements to the system,” says Erik Winberg. “We can deliver
longer range with increased detection and tracking performance against the most challenging
targets. This includes high-speed, high altitude air vehicles and ‘low and slow’ targets like
UAVs, cruise missiles, hovering helicopters and microlights. The Erieye ER is designed to
detect and defeat ‘stealthy’ platforms of all kinds and it has similar long-range detection
capabilities against small sea targets too, like jet-skis. This enhanced performance comes with
the same careful attention to lower life cycle costs that defines all Saab products,” notes Erik
Winberg.

The Bombardier Global 6000 ultra-long range business jet is ideally suited for special mission
applications. Its endurance of more than 11 hours makes every kind of mission possible. It
brings an essential combination of high-speed and high altitude performance with the ability
to operate comfortably at lower levels all while operating from small runways in every kind of
weather condition.

Three Configurations
Saab’s GlobalEye comes in three different configurations, to meet customer specific needs.
The primary configuration provides a complete AEW&C capability for air, maritime and
ground surveillance. One configuration adds increased maritime and ground capabilities to the
baseline standard, through an extra maritime surveillance radar and electro-optical sensors. A
second configuration, still based on the primary configuration, gives enhanced signals
intelligence (Sigint) capability with new sensors for Comint and Elint.

Improved Radar Range

The Erieye ER (Extended Range) radar is the primary sensor of Saab’s Global Eye. The key
requirement for this radar is to acquire target information in a large air volume and/or over a
vast surface area, to process the data in real-time and to rapidly distribute that information.

“The Erieye ER Radar is a new-generation long-range airborne surveillance radar, providing

simultaneous air, sea and ground surveillance. It is a result of Saab’s continuous development
of the Erieye concept, increasing the detection range by 70 per cent against ‘stealthy’ low
observable air targets,” says Erik Winberg.

“This enhanced performance is achieved through technology development in power

distribution, RF-transistor technology, signal and data processing techniques,” says Erik
Winberg. “The radar detects and tracks air targets of all sizes over land and sea. Even the
smallest targets, such as cruise missiles will be detected in heavy clutter. Sea targets, even
small boats are detected all the way to the horizon. The radar can track thousands of air and
sea targets simultaneously.”

An additional high performance maritime surveillance radar can be mounted under the
fuselage. It is used for close range maritime and ground surveillance, SAR and ISAR imaging,
and for search-and-rescue missions. It also has the capability to detect small objects, like
submarine periscopes. There is also an electro-optical system which is configured to operate
simultaneously in multiple bands including the visible, near-IR and mid-wave IR spectrums.

Command and Control System

The new on-board command and control (C2) system allows the crew to rapidly adapt to
complex and changing missions. The crew can use all operator positions if required by a high-
priority tasking but, in a low-intensity situation, all functions can be performed using just one
or two consoles. All mission data and control functions are available at every console, and
each console is fully multi-role and interchangeable. This allows a reduction of manpower
during ‘normal’ periods of a mission.

To provide operators with the best possible interface each C2 workstation features a 30-inch
wide-screen high-resolution colour display. Up to seven workstations can be accommodated
by the Global 6000.

“The provision of a multi-role capability ensures that the operator can, at any time during a
mission, use all tactical facilities without any special log-in procedure or other time delaying
activity,” says Erik Winberg.

With the C2 system, the operators can access target data obtained by the on-board sensors or
received via the data links, identify tracks, control own forces, monitor threats, command
operations and manage all on-board systems. The C2 system also includes functions for
mission planning and mission evaluation. To further aid the operators during the target
identification process, the C2 system includes comprehensive functions for handling a great
number of flight plans and reference flight routes.

“The ongoing evolution in commercially available technologies gives us new equipment with
the latest processor technology, and applications with better performance, based on
commercially available standards. They will also be easier to upgrade in the future,” says Erik
Winberg.

Self-Protection System

GlobalEye is equipped with a state-of-the-art self-protection system, based on the latest

developments from within Saab that are operational and proven on multiple aircraft types
already, including the Saab Gripen, Saab 2000, Panavia Tornado and NH Industries NH90.

“The self-protection system has a complete suite of sensors and countermeasures dispensers.
It is designed for automatic operation but can also be controlled by the pilot,” says Erik
Winberg.