LINKOPING, Sweden -- On March 14, 2018, Saab successfully completed the first flight of the GlobalEye Airborne Early Warning & Control aircraft.

The GlobalEye took off on its maiden flight at 12:52pm local time from Saab's airfield in Linköping, Sweden. The aircraft, a modified Bombardier Global 6000 jet platform, undertook a 1 hour 46 minutes test flight collecting extensive flight-test data using the on-board instrumentation suite. This data is then used to verify the aircraft performance and associated modelling. The first flight was preceded by a series of ground trials including high and low speed taxiing tests.

Among the major sensors incorporated in the GlobalEye package are Saab's latest generation of the Erieye radars, the Erieye ER early warning and control radar and Leonardo's Seaspray 7500E multimode surveillance radar. The Erieye ER, as its name suggests is an extended range variant of the Erieye that provides early warning air surveillance through an adaptive active electronically scanned array (AESA). Meanwhile the Seaspray 7500E is a member of Leonardo's line of Seaspray radars, which have been upgraded with AESA capability. In this configuration, the Seaspray 7500E provides maritime and ground surveillance service.

"The first flight is the second major milestone for the GlobalEye program within a very short space of time. Yet again we have demonstrated that we are delivering on our commitments and that we are on track with our production of the world's most advanced swing-role surveillance system," said Anders Carp, Senior Vice President and head of Saab's business area Surveillance.

"Today's flight went as planned, with the performance level matching our high expectations. The aircraft's smooth handling was just as predicted and a real pleasure for me to fly," said Magnus Fredriksson, Saab Experimental Test Pilot.

The maiden flight took place three weeks after Saab revealed the GlobalEye aircraft to the media for the first time on February 23, 2018. GlobalEye combines air, maritime and ground surveillance in one swing-role solution. GlobalEye carries a full suite of sophisticated sensors integrated with the ultra-long range Global 6000 aircraft, which Saab says is known for its versatility and smooth flight characteristics.

The GlobalEye launch customer is the United Arab Emirates Armed Forces, where it is known as the Swing Role Surveillance System (SRSS). The initial order was placed in November 2015. GlobalEye brings extended detection range, endurance and the ability to perform multiple roles, including tasks such as search and rescue, border surveillance and military operations.

Source: Saab