{"id":29756,"date":"2018-01-10T14:36:15","date_gmt":"2018-01-10T14:36:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/c4isrnet\/uncategorized\/2018\/01\/10\/saab-hoping-to-edge-its-radar-into-navys-future-frigate-program\/"},"modified":"2026-08-07T23:43:34","modified_gmt":"2026-08-07T23:43:34","slug":"saab-hoping-to-edge-its-radar-into-navys-future-frigate-program","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/c4isrnet\/intel-geoint\/sensors\/2018\/01\/10\/saab-hoping-to-edge-its-radar-into-navys-future-frigate-program\/","title":{"rendered":"Saab hoping to edge its radar into Navy’s future frigate program"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

ARLINGTON, Va. \u2014 The Navy has tapped Raytheon\u2019s Enterprise Air Surveillance Radar as its preferred radar for the future frigate, but Swedish defense company Saab is closely watching the program to see if an opening develops for its Sea Giraffe agile multibeam radar, company officials said Monday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Saab believes its Sea Giraffe might be able to fill a complimentary role on the future frigate, known as FFG(X)<\/a>, even if the Navy moves ahead with its presumed choice of EASR, said Jay Abendroth, Saab\u2019s vice president and general manager of sensor systems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cRight now, EASR is the main surveillance radar on there,\u201d he told Defense News during an interview on the floor of the Surface Navy Association symposium.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat they are going to expect the frigate to do does open a lot of potentials, because again it\u2019s not just about air surveillance with this set of radars, it gets a lot more into the other missions \u2014 navigation and other things \u2014 that might not actually be required of EASR. There may be other radar or sensor packages that will do those missions as well.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Click here to see more coverage of Surface Navy Association symposium 2018! <\/a><\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Saab\u2019s Sea Giraffe family of systems has been a success story for its U.S. radar business. General Dynamics in 2005 selected the Sea Giraffe for the Independence-class littoral combat ship built by Austal, after which the Navy gave it the designation AN\/SPS-77.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A derivative of the AN\/SPS-77, called the multi-mode radar, has been chosen for the Coast Guard\u2019s Offshore Patrol Cutter, with first delivery expected this year. The company is also adapting the AN\/SPS-77 for Nimitz-class carriers as well as America-class and Wasp-class amphibious assault ships, where it will support air traffic control.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Saab is under contract to provide the AN-SPS-77 for littoral combat ships up to LCS 30, and the program is slated to end after 32 ships are produced. However, there are signs that the Navy could expand the LCS shipbuilding program even as they press ahead with the development of FFG(X).<\/p>\n\n\n\t