Sweden strengthens air defence system with new Saab command systems and Giraffe radars.

Saab has received a roughly $220 million order from Sweden’s Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) for new sensors and command-and-control systems to build a land-based air defence layer for Swedish Army brigades, with deliveries planned for 2027 to 2028. The deal deepens Sweden’s post-NATO focus on integrated ground-based air defence, tightening the sensor-to-shooter chain from Giraffe radars to systems like RBS 70 NG and boosting protection on the alliance’s northern flank.

Saab has announced a new $220 million contract from the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration to supply command-and-control systems and sensors for a brigade-level, land-based air defence solution, extending an existing modernization partnership on the Army’s ground-based air defence architecture. The package builds around the LSS Lv command suite and Saab’s Giraffe family of 3D radars, integrating Giraffe 1X for short-range surveillance and preparing the Giraffe AMB for brigade use, with deliveries scheduled between 2027 and 2028. Together, the systems are intended to give Swedish brigades a more mobile, autonomous, and NATO-interoperable air defence posture able to counter cruise missiles, helicopters, and drones at low altitude.
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The Giraffe 1X, a compact 3D AESA radar operating in the X-band, provides surveillance out to roughly 75 km with 360-degree coverage (Picture source: Saab)

The order follows on from systems already delivered, in particular LSS Lv, a command-and-control software suite used to coordinate unit engagements, manage the distribution of targeting data, and support operational planning. The system is designed to support land formations, with mobility aligned with brigade operational tempos and a response capacity against low-altitude air threats such as cruise missiles, helicopters, and drones. The Giraffe 1X radar, already fielded, provides the short-range surveillance element of this lower air defence layer.

The contract includes integration work, studies, and spare parts, as well as an additional study aimed at integrating the Giraffe AMB radar into brigade structures. This development seeks to create continuity between medium-range surveillance and short-range detection, reinforcing the sensor-to-shooter chain. The Giraffe AMB, a 3D radar operating in the C-band, typically detects targets out to 120 km and can track several hundred objects simultaneously. Its high refresh rate and elevation coverage enable it to detect fast or masked trajectories while remaining interoperable with national and allied command networks.

The Giraffe 1X, a compact 3D AESA radar operating in the X-band, provides surveillance out to roughly 75 km with 360-degree coverage. Its high rotation speed, up to 60 revolutions per minute, gives it a very reactive detection profile, particularly useful against mini-UAVs or other low-altitude vectors. Mounted on light vehicles, it is intended to deploy within minutes and is designed with strong resistance to jamming. Data flows from these sensors are integrated into the LSS Lv digital architecture, which fuses inputs to provide a coherent air picture to tactical decision-makers.

At the tactical level, the combined system enables Swedish brigades to conduct autonomous air defence operations while remaining connected to the national chain of command. Mobility is a central element of the configuration, as it reduces vulnerability to counter-battery actions and supports frequent repositioning of radar assets and control nodes. Connectivity provided by LSS Lv allows target allocation between multiple units equipped with RBS 70 NG missiles or comparable systems, optimizing weapon employment by avoiding duplicate engagements and shortening reaction times.

At the operational level, this modernization reflects Sweden’s intention to rebuild a land-based air defence posture that was reduced after the end of the Cold War and is now returning to the foreground. The combination of LSS Lv with the Giraffe 1X and AMB radars shapes a distributed posture that is more resilient in contested environments, with greater command autonomy and more continuous detection chains. The approach also supports the national industrial base, with Saab acting as a supplier of command solutions that are NATO-compatible while retaining national specificities.

Sweden’s recent accession to NATO and the changing security environment in Northern Europe give integrated air defence on the Alliance’s northern flank renewed importance. The improvement of Sweden’s ability to detect, classify, and engage air threats in the Baltic area strengthens operational coherence with Finland and regional partners. Through this contract, Sweden contributes to the security of the Nordic corridor and to the stabilization of an environment in which control of sensors, command autonomy, and interoperability have become key conditions for collective deterrence.