Sweden has signed a new $220 million agreement with Saab to enhance its brigade-level ground-based air defence architecture. The contract, awarded by the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV), includes advanced command-and-control systems and multiple Giraffe radar variants, with deliveries scheduled from 2027 to 2028.
The procurement underlines Sweden’s post-NATO focus on integrated, mobile, and autonomous air defence, strengthening the sensor-to-shooter chain that links radar detections to systems such as the RBS 70 NG. The upgrade aims to reinforce NATO’s northern flank and improve Sweden’s ability to counter cruise missiles, helicopters, and drones flying at low altitude.
LSS Lv and Giraffe Radar Family: A Unified Air Defence Network
The modernization package expands existing Army command infrastructure and centers on:
📡 LSS Lv Command-and-Control Suite
- Coordinates engagements across brigade formations
- Distributes sensor data to firing units
- Builds a consolidated air picture for tactical commanders
- Fully NATO-interoperable and optimized for mobile operations
📡 Giraffe 1X – Short-Range X-Band 3D AESA Radar
- Approx. 75 km surveillance range
- 360-degree coverage
- High rotation rate (up to 60 rpm) for rapid mini-UAV detection
- Mounted on light vehicles, deployable within minutes
- Hardened against electronic jamming
📡 Giraffe AMB – Medium-Range C-Band 3D Radar
- 120 km range
- Tracks hundreds of targets simultaneously
- Detects fast or low-observable air threats
- Compatible with Swedish and NATO air defence networks
The contract includes further studies to integrate Giraffe AMB into brigade structures, enhancing continuity between short-range and medium-range surveillance layers.
Mobile and Distributed Air Defence for Modern Threats
The combined C2 and radar architecture enables Swedish brigades to conduct autonomous air defence while staying connected to national command structures. High mobility reduces vulnerability to counter-battery fire, allowing rapid relocation of radar assets.
Through LSS Lv, multiple RBS 70 NG units can share targeting data, eliminating redundant engagements and cutting reaction times—critical elements in defending against low-altitude threats such as drones or cruise missiles.
Rebuilding Ground-Based Air Defence After the Post–Cold War Drawdown
Sweden is reestablishing a ground-based air defence capability that diminished after the Cold War. The integration of Giraffe 1X and AMB radars with advanced C2 infrastructure creates a resilient, distributed air-surveillance network better suited to contested airspace.
With Sweden now a NATO member, the system strengthens situational awareness and operational cohesion across the Baltic region, enhancing security cooperation with Finland and other northern European partners. The modernization contributes to protecting the Nordic corridor, where interoperability, autonomous command, and strong sensor networks are essential for collective defence.
