The Saab Naval portfolio, addressing the three dimensions of air, surface and subsurface solutions provides comprehensive solutions to the challenges posed by the maritime environment today. Since more than 90 per cent of global trade is carried by sea, the need to protect these trade flows is growing. This is why there is a rising demand in the naval market for expeditionary and coastal capabilities. Technological advances are also driving development, such as ships with smaller crews and more sensors used to monitor and record traffic along coasts and in harbours.

Saab’s objective to co-develop and coproduce in India for India (and where applicable, the world market), complements the successive Indian Naval Chief’s stated objective of Indian Navy being a builder’s Navy.

While Saab has a long history of working with the Indian Government, its entry into the coastal security domain has been made through the Director General of Lighthouses and Lightships with the setting up of the National AIS network.

Saab has started with Pipavav Defence and Offshore Engineering Company (PDOC), a combat systems engineering group (CSEG) and is teaming with them for the development of indigenous combat management systems, structured around Saab’s framework of the 9LV combat management system.

The 9LV solutions extend from a simple situation awareness terminal (9LV SAT) which can be used even in a RHIB boat with wireless connectivity to mother, to the 9LV Compact suited for smaller and more compact platforms, to the full-fledged 9LV CMS suited for frigates, landing platform docks (LPDs), destroyers, aircraft carriers and submarines. Through the setting up of these capabilities in the country, the indigenous effort to configure operational platforms through a systems engineered analysis will help optimise operational systems and provide the Commanding Officers those few extra seconds for taking the right decisions!

Saab also has on offer light weight optronic tracking system (EOS 500) and efficient all-weather fire directing system (Ceros 200) capable to direct a wide variety of guns and missile systems. Over 200 installations of this system are in use by several navies in the world.

Saab has offered their RBS15 anti-ship missile to the Indian Navy. This can be launched from land, air and sea, making it suitable for a wide spectrum of threat scenarios. The RBS15 missile family, consisting of RBS15 Mk 3 and the RBS15F ER air launched version, has the unique flexibility of launch from various platforms. The RBS15 Mk3 is the latest development in the RBS15 family of surface-to-surface (SSM) missile system. It is a true fire-and-forget multi-purpose anti-ship/land attack, ultralow sea skimming and cruise missile.

The missile possesses a very high hit probability through the means of a flexible pre-launch programmable active radar seeker. It has unique ECCM and defence penetration capabilities by a stealthy approach featuring a very low terminal trajectory with a set of evasive manoeuvres and re-attack options.The RBS15F ER the air-launched version of the missile can be launched from both fighter as well as reconnaissance aircraft. The RBS15 missile is designed to operate from blue sea conditions to littoral warfare and in land attack missions. The long flight range and extremely flexible trajectory enables attacks from short distances toranges well beyond the horizon. RBS15 Mk3, being a smaller and lighter sea-skimming missile can serve as a cost-effective complement to the supersonic missile BrahMos, which is Indian Navy’s standard fit for large platforms.

In addition to the missile, Saab has also responded to the Navy’s RFI for the mobile coastal missile systems with the 3D Saab multi-roles GIRAFFE AMB as the primary radar sensor and integrated C2 and RBS15.

Saab is proud of its naval radars that have been used by many navies in the world. The fact that it is selected as the naval radar on the US Navy littoral combat ship programme is a proud testimonial of its multirole capabilities. The factor that appeals to operational commanders is that the Saab radars maximises the response time of the naval commander due to a high target update rate in the full search volume. Saab’s 3D Sea GIRAFFE AMB radar has been chosen by most customers worldwide for its capability to detect sea-skimming missiles out to the radar horizon, automatic track initiation in high-clutter environments like littorals, and above all more than 97 per cent availability in combat environment.

In addition, the radar has a built in RAM function that is perhaps unique in that it provides capability to detect and pin-point the source of artillery fire and impact point looking from sea-wards, an aid very useful for platforms used in landing operations. This also adds value for adjusting your own fire. The light electronically stabilised antenna (640 kg) and high speed of rotation (30/60 rpm) also make this radar very suitable particularly for a wide variety of naval platforms.

For naval and coast guard commanders who need to assure maritime domain awareness and ship survivability, the Sea GIRAFFE LT is an augmented 2D version of the 3D Sea GIRAFFE AMB radar. This performs both surface and air surveillance and tracking simultaneously, has a low top weight (< 250 kg), incorporates three antennas in one (search + navigation + IFF), and is easy to upgrade to a 3D Sea GIRAFFE AMB radar. The SG AMB and SG LT use the newest available radar technology and the C-band frequency to optimise both air and surface surveillance in all weather conditions. The factor that appeals to operational commanders is that the Saab radars maximises the response time of the naval commander and has multi-role capabilities. The factor that appeals to naval platform builders is their low footprint and weight above and below deck.

The long-range variant of the Sea GIRAFFE radar family is the Sea GIRAFFE4A. This is a 3D multi-mission AESA radar on the S (E/F)-band which is designed to meet tomorrow’s naval commander challenges like smaller and faster multiple threats, complex target manoeuvring, electronic attack and protect. With automated target classification and identification, the radar is suited for both littorals and blue water operations. It takes full advantage of the AESA technology (multi-mission), and like other Saab naval radars, has a low footprint, and high air and surface search volume capacity and very long detection range for a relatively small radar.

Saab has a strong position in radar and early warning, command, control and communication systems (C4ISR), tactical weapons and underwater systems. Some of these solutions are airborne: multi-role surveillance aircraft ensuring full control and command of maritime arenas, operating independently or in unison with other marine and land-based assets in military as well as search-and-rescue missions.