Saab 340 AEW&C

The Saab 340 AEW&C is a Swedish airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft; a variant of the Saab 340 aircraft is designated S 100B Argus by the Swedish Air Force.

Saab 340 AEWCS
S 100 Argus
An S 100B Argus at Malmen in 2010
Role AEWCS aircraft
National origin Sweden
Manufacturer Saab AB
First flight 1994[1]
Introduction 1997
Status Active
Primary users Swedish Air Force
Royal Thai Air Force
Produced 1994–1999
Number built 12
Developed from Saab 340

Radar

Compared to the traditional circular radar on AWACS planes, such as the E-3 Sentry, the Saab 340 has a non-movable PS-890 AESA radar made with the Erieye system which offers lower drag, but has a dead zone directly behind and in front of the plane, with a 120 degree zone of scan on either side of the airframe.[2] The mounted radar is capable of tracking ships, planes and missiles up to 300–400 km (190–250 mi) while at an altitude of 20,000 ft (6,100 m).[3]

Operational history

Six S 100B Argus aircraft were produced for the Swedish Air Force, four of which are permanently equipped with the Erieye active electronically scanned array (AESA) early warning radar and two fitted for transport missions during peacetime.

Two modified planes were loaned to Greece prior to the delivery of EMB-145 Erieye systems, which commenced in 2003.

In July 2006, Saab was awarded a contract to upgrade two of the Swedish Air Force's S 100B aircraft for surveillance missions and for deployment in multi-national operations. The upgraded Saab 340 AEW-300 aircraft, are planned to enter service by 2009.

In November 2007, Thailand announced the intention to buy two S 100B AEW aircraft from the Swedish Air Force.

Variants

Saab 340B AEW / S 100B Argus
(FSR-890) Erieye, for the Thai Air Force.
Saab 340B AEW-200
(IS-340) Erieye
Saab 340B AEW-300 / S 100D Argus
(ASC-890) Erieye

Operators

Swedish Air Force Saab 340 Argus
Royal Thai Air Force Saab 340 AEW&C
Pakistan Air Force Saab 2000 AEW&C
Current
 Sweden
  • Swedish Air Force operates two aircraft (2 S100D / ASC890)[4] SAAB Globaleye was ordered as replecements in June 2022[5]
 Thailand
 Poland
  • Polish Air Force - Purchased two Saab 340 AEW early warning and control aircraft in July 2023 with deliveries planned to start in 2024.[9][10] The first plane was delivered in September 2023. [11]
Former operators
 Greece
 United Arab Emirates

Saab 2000 AEW&C operators

In December 1988, Saab decided to build a stretched derivative of its Saab 340, called Saab 2000

 Pakistan
 Saudi Arabia

Specifications (Saab 340 AEW&C)

Data from [17]

General characteristics

  • Crew: 6
  • Length: 20.57 m (67 ft 6 in)
  • Wingspan: 21.44 m (70 ft 4 in)
  • Height: 6.97 m (22 ft 10 in)
  • Empty weight: 10,300 kg (22,707 lb) [18]
  • Gross weight: 13,155 kg (29,000 lb)
  • Powerplant: 2 × General Electric CT7-9B , 1,390 kW (1,870 hp) each

Performance

  • Endurance: 5+ hours[18]
  • Service ceiling: 7,620 m (25,000 ft)

See also

Related development

Related lists

References

  1. "Flygplan S 100 B" (in Swedish). forsvarsmakten.se. Archived from the original on 2011-08-12. Retrieved 2011-08-02.
  2. Zorro, Mario H. (2018-05-01). "Saab 340 AEWC". Plane-Encyclopedia. Retrieved 2022-05-04.
  3. Zorro, Mario H. (2018-05-01). "Saab 340 AEWC". Plane-Encyclopedia. Retrieved 2022-05-04.
  4. "S 100 D" (in Swedish). Retrieved 2022-02-25.
  5. "FMV beställer två GlobalEye till Försvarsmakten".
  6. Gripen International Archived 2010-02-04 at the Wayback Machine Gripen agreement between Sweden and Thailand signed.
  7. "Thailand Buying JAS-39 Gripens, AWACS". Archived from the original on 2011-02-14. Retrieved 2011-01-18.
  8. "Gripeny operacyjne w Tajlandii - Altair Agencja Lotnicza". Archived from the original on 2011-07-15.
  9. saab.com - Saab receives order for airborne early warning aircraft from Poland (25 July 2023)
  10. "Poland signs for Saab 340 AEW&C aircraft". Janes.com. Retrieved 2023-07-27.
  11. https://www.aviacionline.com/2023/09/saab-unveils-first-saab-340-aew-airborne-early-warning-aircraft-for-poland/
  12. "S100B Argus Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) Aircraft".
  13. "Saab signs contract with United Arab Emirates for airborne surveillance system" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2016-03-03. Retrieved 2011-01-18.
  14. Allport, Dave (February 2021). "Saab AEW&C aircraft return to Sweden". Air International. Vol. 100, no. 2. p. 13. ISSN 0306-5634.
  15. "Aerial Eyes: Pakistans New AWACS Fleets". Archived from the original on 2016-01-31. Retrieved 2016-03-21.
  16. "Pakistan Air Force receives AEW&C radar equipment from Saab". Air Force Technology. 16 April 2019. Archived from the original on 16 April 2019. Retrieved 16 April 2019.
  17. Fredriksson, Urban (2004-06-07). "Saab 340 AEW". Sweden. Archived from the original on 20 October 2011. Retrieved 21 October 2011.
  18. Försvarsmakten. "S 100 D". Archived from the original on 2015-03-25. Retrieved 2015-04-23.

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