Saab Enhances Counter-UAV Abilities of Giraffe Surface Radars

By Mike Ball / 05 Jul 2016

Smart Sourcing for Unmanned Systems

Discover cutting-edge solutions from leading global suppliers
SUPPLIER SPOTLIGHT
Follow UST

Saab Giraffe Radar

Saab has announced that it has made upgrades to the ability of its Giraffe surface radars to detect both UAVs and stealth-cloaked aircraft.

When a conventional military aircraft enters the range of most radar systems, the speed at which it is travelling, its altitude, and its size all make it readily identifiable.

But when an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) does the same, the situation is less clear-cut. Because UAVs are typically small in size and fly at low altitude and at low speeds, most radar systems struggle to distinguish them from birds, presenting a real threat to troops and other assets in the vicinity.

Saab’s Head of Surface Radars, Anders Linder, says it was this threat that prompted the development of Saab’s Enhanced Low, Slow and Small (ELSS) system, a capability that enables the company’s Giraffe range of air surveillance and air defence systems to distinguish between UAVs and birds with remarkable accuracy. “In the past, you might have seen 100 objects on a radar screen, and 99 of them were birds and one was a UAV,” says Linder. “So, we studied the flight patterns and behaviour of birds and developed algorithms and software that made it possible to identify the UAV.”

Linder says with the enormous growth in UAV-use in combat situations – both for surveillance and delivering weapon payloads – Saab’s ELSS technology brings significant benefits to armed forces who possess it. “If you are a commander on a ship or on the ground in a combat zone, you want to know if you are being observed,” he says. “Similarly, if you are in a camp and people are attacking you with UAVS carrying gas or bombs, you want to be able to take them down. By combining ELSS-equipped radar with a weapons system, you can have that capability.”

A Saab Giraffe 4A multifunction radar system featuring ELSS technology will be featured at the Saab Experience at the 2016 Farnborough International Airshow. Saab recently commenced serial production of the enhanced Giraffe range. Its Giraffe portfolio now includes the ground based long-range Giraffe 8A, as well as sea and land versions of the Giraffe 4A, the short-range Giraffe 1X and medium-range Giraffe AMB.

Linder says enhanced power and range mean Giraffe radars are now better equipped than ever to detect stealth-cloaked aircraft, and that they also feature industry-leading jamming resistance measures.

Posted by Mike Ball Mike Ball is our resident technical editor here at Unmanned Systems Technology. Combining his passion for teaching, advanced engineering and all things unmanned, Mike keeps a watchful eye over everything related to the unmanned technical sector. With over 10 years’ experience in the unmanned field and a degree in engineering, Mike’s been heading up our technical team here for the last 8 years. Connect & Contact

Latest Articles

Gremsy Unveils Advanced Payload & Gimbal Solutions at Japan Drone 2025

Gremsy showcased its latest gimbal and payload innovations at Japan Drone 2025, marking a strategic entry into Japan’s highly demanding drone market

Jun 18, 2025
How Parylene Coatings Address PCB Corrosion Risks in Critical Devices

Specialty Coating Systems (SCS) details how corrosion in printed circuit boards (PCBs) can compromise critical systems, and explains the protective role of Parylene coatings

Jun 18, 2025
UAV Navigation-Grupo Oesía to Advance Autonomy in European VTOL Defense Drones

UAV Navigation-Grupo Oesía will supply critical autonomous navigation technology for Europe’s VANTAGE project, advancing next-gen VTOL drone capabilities for defense operations

Jun 18, 2025
Small Propeller-Driven UAS Launched Effect for Uncrewed Operations

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems has unveiled the PELE, a versatile, semi-autonomous uncrewed launched effect with 7 hour endurance, optimized for use on the MQ-9B SkyGuardian®, that can also be launched from the ground

Jun 18, 2025
Product Spotlight: ACM1000 MEMS Sensor for Multi-Parameter Vibration Monitoring

Micro-Magic outlines the capabilities of its ACM1000 digital MEMS vibration sensor, engineered for high-accuracy monitoring with multi-parameter outputs and robust performance in demanding environments

Jun 18, 2025
FPV Drone Showcased in Live Military Demonstration

Astra Systems has demonstrated its advanced Arbiter 1A FPV drone to the U.S. Army, showcasing tactical agility, ISR capabilities, and battlefield readiness

Jun 18, 2025

Featured Content

HBK Updates RTK Service for Precise Positioning in Autonomous Systems

HBK has updated its SensorCloud RTK service, integrating with MicroStrain by HBK navigation systems to provide centimeter-level accuracy and simplified deployment for autonomous systems

Jun 17, 2025
MEMS DC Accelerometers from SDI Deliver Superior Performance for Unmanned Systems

SDI's MEMS DC accelerometers offer a robust solution for unmanned aerial, ground, and underwater vehicles, providing precise static and dynamic motion sensing, crucial for autonomous navigation, attitude feedback, and structural monitoring

Jun 12, 2025
Calian GNSS Unveils New Anti-Jamming CRPA with XF+ Filtering

Calian GNSS has introduced the CR8894SXF+, a compact CRPA antenna with in-band null forming and XF+ filtering for resilient GNSS performance in interference-prone environments

Jun 06, 2025
Advancing Unmanned Systems Through Strategic Collaboration UST works with major OEMs to foster collaboration and increase engagement with SMEs, to accelerate innovation and drive unmanned systems capabilities forward.