Saab Continues to Enhance The Australian Army’s Ground-Based Air Defence Capability

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Defence and security company Saab has signed a contract with the Australian Defence Force to upgrade the Army’s RBS 70 ground-based air defence weapon system and Giraffe AMB radar. The contract has a combined value of approximately AUD32.5 million.

Delivered under the AIR 90 programme, the existing Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) capability of the RBS 70 and Giraffe AMB systems will be upgraded to include Mode 5 functionality. The Mode 5 waveform uses modern modulation, coding, and cryptographic techniques to overcome performance and security limitations in the current Mode 4 waveform. Additionally, Mode 5 systems provide expanded data handling capabilities to securely pass GPS position and other extended data. The IFF is a critical safety feature of any ground-based air defence capability as it dramatically reduces the risk of incorrectly engaging friendly aircraft. This upgrade will support Australia’s Ground-Based Air Defence capability operating in a joint and coalition airspace environment beyond 2030.

The RBS 70 weapon system has been in service in Australia since 1987. Significant enhancements to both the weapon sight and the missile have ensured that it remains a modern and potent missile system to counter a constantly evolving air threat. The Giraffe AMB radar was acquired in 2010 and is part of the capability of the Army’s 16th Air Land Regiment. It provides high-fidelity airspace situational awareness while simultaneously ensuring early warning of incoming rocket and mortar attacks, and locating hostile indirect fire.

“Saab’s IFF Mode 5 upgrade will ensure the Australian Army’s RBS 70 and Giraffe AMB radar capabilities continue to provide world-leading force protection against a wide range of air threats,” says Dean Rosenfield, Managing Director of Saab Australia.

“Saab Australia has been the Australian Army’s Ground-Based Air Defence trusted capability partner for many years and we look forward to growing this relationship through future Ground Based Air and Missile Defence programs”, says Rosenfield.

For three decades, Saab Australia, which is part of Saab business area Surveillance, has successfully delivered and supported the Australian Army’s Ground-Based Air Defence capability. Saab’s commitment to innovation and technological advancement ensures world-leading capability for modern defence forces. Saab Australia’s local expertise and experience makes it the perfect Ground-Based Air and Missile Defence capability partner for the Australian Army, now and into the future.

About Saab

Saab serves the global market with world-leading products, services and solutions within military defence and civil security. Saab has operations and employees on all continents around the world. Through innovative, collaborative and pragmatic thinking, Saab develops, adopts and improves new technology to meet customers’ changing needs.