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UAE - AEW Airborne Early Warning Aircraft

On 4 September 2002, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress of a possible Foreign Military Sale to the United Arab Emirates of refurbished/upgraded E-2C aircraft to the E-2C HAWKEYE 2000 as well as associated equipment and services. The total value, if all options are exercised, could be as high as $400 million. The Government of the United Arab Emirates requested a possible sale of 5 refurbished/upgraded E-2C aircraft to the E-2C HAWKEYE 2000, 5 AN/APS-145 radars, 5 OE-335/A antenna groups, 10 T56-A-425 engines, spare and repairs parts, support equipment, personnel training and training equipment, technical data and publications, tactical software and software laboratory, system software development and installation, testing of new system modifications, U.S. Government and contractor engineering and logistics services and other related elements of program support. This proposed sale will contribute to the foreign policy and national security of the United States by helping to improve the security of a friendly country which has been and continues to be an important force for political stability and economic progress in the Middle East. The United Arab Emirates needs the E-2C aircraft to develop an effective air defense network for their naval forces and provide an Airborne Early Warning (AEW) surveillance and enhanced command, control, and communications capability. UAE will have no difficulty absorbing the E-2C aircraft into its armed forces.

Delivery of the first aircraft was scheduled for first quarter 2006, the last by first quarter 2008. The aircraft are ex-US Navy E-2Cs previously stored at Davis Monthan AFB, Arizona but had been moved to undergo extensive refurbishment to Hawkeye 2000 standard.

On December 4, 2007 the Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress of a possible Foreign Military Sale to the United Arab Emirates of upgrades and refurbishments of E-2C aircraft as well as associated equipment and services. The Government of the United Arab Emirates has requested a possible sale of upgrades and refurbishment for three (3) used, excess defense articles (EDA) E-2C Airborne Early Warning (AEW) aircraft with radar and antennae. These upgrades/refurbishments include E-2C Group II Navigation Upgrade configuration, 8 T56-A-427 Turbo Shaft engines, Phased Maintenance Inspection, spare and repairs parts, support equipment, personnel training and training equipment, technical data and publications, tactical software and software laboratory, system software development and installation, testing of new system modifications, U.S. Government and contractor technical and logistics personnel services, and other related support elements. The estimated cost is $437 million.

As of 2013, the UAE had not bought any Hawkeyes.

As of November 2007 the UAE Air Force was reported to be on the verge of making a decision regarding its key airborne early warning and control aircraft (AEW&C) requirement. The choice followed an extensive analysis of the force’s operational needs and the issue of a highly detailed request for information (RFI) in 2006. Before the previous Dubai Air Show the UAE Air Force and Air Defense had signaled its serious intentions to acquire an airborne early warning and control system. Following a requirements analysis that covered a broad range of AEW solutions, including ground-based and aerostats, an RFI went out to industry in late 2006. Although the contents of the RFI (and the responses) remained classified, indications suggest a very detailed document. The three competitors were all presenting their AEW&C products at the show: Boeing, with a 737AEW&C in the static park; Northrop Grumman, with a Hawkeye visiting from the USS Enterprise; and Saab, with an Erieye system presentation at its stand in the West Hall.

At the Dubai air show in 2009 it was announced that the AFAD would acquire two ex-Swedish air force Saab 340 AEW aircraft equipped with the Erieye radar. In the case of the UAE, the Saab 2000 proved the best solution because the turboprop airliner platform offers good field performance in hot conditions. Saab delivered the first of the 340s in 2010, and the second arrived in 2011.

In Novemer 2015 the United Arab Emirates ordered two new airborne Swing Role Surveillance System (SRSS) with Swedish Saab Defence. The order worth USD 1.27 billion would see the SAAB Erieye boom radar mounted on a pair of Bombardier Global 6000 business jets. The new SRSS is capable of simultaneous detection and tracking of multiple targets in the air, on land and at sea. It is the latest evolution of the Erieye system that incorporates Saab’s many decades of radar capabilities across all domains.

On 10 November 2015 defense and security company Saab signed a contract with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to expand and enhance the Emirates’ airborne surveillance capabilities. Saab would deliver a new airborne Swing Role Surveillance System (SRSS) incorporating a new version of the Saab Erieye radar system. The order value amounted to approximately USD1.27 billion. The new SRSS for the UAE used the Global 6000 aircraft from Bombardier as a platform. The Swing Role Surveillance System is capable of simultaneous detection and tracking of multiple targets in the air, on land and at sea. It is the latest evolution of the Erieye system that incorporates Saab’s many decades of radar capabilities across all domains.

On 19 November 2019 the United Arab Emirates announced at the Dubai Airshow that they intend to conclude a contract amendment for the purchase of two additional GlobalEye Airborne Early Warning & Control aircraft from Saab. According to today’s announcement, the potential order value related to this contract amendment would be USD 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 original development and production contract for GlobalEye was awarded to Saab at the Dubai Air Show in November 2015 by the United Arab Emirates 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 in a single solution. It combines a new extended range radar with the ultra-long range Global 6000jet aircraft from Bombardier.