U.S. Army to Deploy 10 Saab Giraffe 1X Radars to Baltics to Counter Drones and Low-Altitude Threats.

The U.S. Army has awarded Saab Inc. $23.88 million to deliver 10 Giraffe 1X radars to Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, directly strengthening NATO defenses against drones and low-altitude missile threats along its northeastern flank.

The modification raises the total program value to $70.08 million, with deliveries running through February 2027. Once fielded, the radars will close critical low-altitude surveillance gaps across the Baltics, plug into NATO air-defense networks, and cut response times against fast-moving aerial threats.

Read also: Belgium Strengthens Counter-Drone Capabilities With Saab Giraffe 1X Mobile Radar.

The U.S. Army awarded Saab Inc. $23.88 million to deliver 10 Giraffe 1X radars to Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, boosting low-altitude surveillance and counter-drone capabilities while strengthening NATO’s air defense on its northeastern flank (Picture source: Saab).

The modification follows Saab’s October 2025 announcement that the U.S. Army had placed an earlier order worth about $46 million for Giraffe 1X systems, with deliveries starting in 2026. In practical terms, Washington is converting security-cooperation funding into fielded sensors that can strengthen Baltic readiness, close low-level air-surveillance gaps, and plug allied forces into a more responsive regional air-defense network.

The Giraffe 1X is a compact 3D multi-mission radar rather than a weapon in itself, but it is the sensor that makes short-range air defense far more lethal and far more survivable. The system weighs under 150 kilograms with a 100-kilogram topside, is capable of scanning its full volume every second, and can detect and track a wide range of targets, including fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, cruise missiles, rockets, artillery and mortars, and small unmanned aerial systems in complex environments. It is designed for extreme deployability and can be mounted on light vehicles, towed, airlifted, or installed on fixed structures, with options for remote or autonomous operation.

That technical profile is operationally important because the Baltic fight is not defined only by high-end aircraft or ballistic missiles, but by the harder problem of detecting low, fast, small, and often inexpensive threats that appear with minimal warning. The Giraffe 1X is optimized for very short-range air defense roles, acting as a gap-filler within layered air-defense architectures and as a dedicated sensor for counter-UAS and counter-rocket, artillery, and mortar missions. In integrated configurations, it can cue short-range air-defense systems such as man-portable air-defense systems or laser-guided interceptors, significantly shortening the sensor-to-shooter timeline.

The radar’s value lies in its ability to combine persistence with mobility. Its “search on the move” capability, enabled by stabilized navigation systems, allows units to maintain situational awareness while maneuvering, a critical feature for dispersed and mobile forces operating under threat. The system can detect very small UAVs at short ranges, making it particularly suited for convoy protection, base defense, and the protection of critical infrastructure. It also enhances survivability by enabling rapid displacement while maintaining continuous coverage, complicating enemy targeting and reducing vulnerability to counter-radar threats.

The U.S. rationale for building partner capacity in the Baltics extends beyond the delivery of individual systems. Security cooperation programs are designed to enable allied forces to address shared threats while operating seamlessly with U.S. and NATO forces. By investing in deployable radar systems, the United States is strengthening the ability of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania to independently detect and respond to air threats while contributing to a broader allied air picture. This approach reinforces deterrence by denial, ensuring that potential adversaries face a more resilient and capable defensive network.

The Baltic states have already begun integrating similar systems into their force structures as part of a broader modernization effort focused on layered air defense. Latvia has introduced Giraffe 1X radars to improve early warning and target acquisition, while Estonia is upgrading its radar and command-and-control infrastructure with U.S. support. Lithuania has invested in short- and medium-range air-defense systems, including mobile short-range air-defense solutions that rely on radar cueing to engage aerial threats effectively. These efforts reflect a coordinated regional approach to closing critical capability gaps.

The regional security environment continues to drive these investments. NATO’s Baltic Air Policing mission has long provided airspace security, but the evolving threat landscape, marked by increased use of drones, electronic warfare, and hybrid tactics, requires more distributed and resilient ground-based capabilities. The accession of Finland and Sweden to NATO has improved the Alliance’s strategic depth in Northern Europe, but the Baltic states remain geographically exposed, with limited depth and short warning times in the event of conflict.

From an industrial perspective, the production of these radars in the United States through Saab Inc. reinforces the role of the U.S. defense industrial base in supporting allied capability development. It also ensures standardization and interoperability across systems delivered under U.S. security assistance frameworks, enabling smoother integration into NATO command-and-control networks and facilitating joint operations.

Ultimately, the significance of the Giraffe 1X procurement lies in its contribution to a more distributed, responsive, and survivable air-defense architecture in the Baltic region. By enhancing the ability to detect and classify low-altitude threats and rapidly cue defensive systems, these radars strengthen both national defense capabilities and collective deterrence. In a region where reaction times are measured in minutes and threats are increasingly diverse, the ability to see first and act quickly is a decisive operational advantage.