Saab Completes Trials of New AESA Radar

Saab on Tuesday announced the completion of first air trials with its new X-band Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar equipped on a Gripen D jet.

The radar will be offered as a new addition to Saab’s PS-05/A radar family.

“Saab continues to develop core AESA technology and has now successfully completed the first air trials with the new X-band AESA radar. The trials were flown successfully, collecting data while detecting and tracking objects,” Saab said.

The radar is designed for fighter aircraft and can be adapted to a variety of platforms. In October 2018, version of the new AESA antenna was sold to a US Government customer.

The host aircraft during the air trial was a Gripen D aircraft, which is currently offered with Saab’s latest Mk4 radar. The new version of the radar can be offered to Gripen C/D operators, as an upgrade.

The new AESA radar features GaN (gallium nitride), a material that gives lower power consumption and improved heat resistance. This enables wider bandwidth and greater reliability, availability and efficiency. The new fighter X-band AESA radar will, for example, have better performance against small targets, enhanced Electronic Counter-Countermeasures (ECCM) capability as well as improved ability to support more advanced weaponry.