UAE Announces Plan to Buy Saab GlobalEye, Airbus A330 MRTTs at Dubai Airshow-2019

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) Air Force announced plans to acquire two additional GlobalEye airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft from Saab, and three more Airbus A330 Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) aircraft, at the ongoing Dubai Airshow (17-21 November).

The GlobalEye is among the static displays at the airshow, marking the aircraft’s debut at any exhibition. It is known in the UAE as the Swing Role Surveillance System (SRSS).

“According to today’s announcement, the potential order value related to this contract amendment would be $1.018 billion. A period of final negotiations will now follow. Saab has not yet signed the contract amendment or received an order relating to today’s announcement,” the Swedish firm said in a statement on Tuesday.

The original development and production contract for GlobalEye was awarded to Saab at the Dubai Air Show in November 2015 by the UAE with an initial order for two systems. An additional order by the UAE for a third system was announced in 2017.

“GlobalEye provides air, maritime and ground surveillance. It combines a new extended range radar with the ultra-long range Global 6000jet aircraft from Bombardier,” Saab said.

The memorandum of understanding for the purchase of 3 A330 MRTTs between Airbus and the UAE was signed in 2007, and in the following year, a deal was signed. Deliveries of the aircraft were completed in August 2013. According to reports, the aircraft are equipped with both ARBS and two Cobham 905E under-wing refuelling pods. The ARBS units installed on these tankers include a secondary boom hoist developed for the UAE. This system permits the boom to be retracted, even in the event of a primary boom retraction system failure.