STOCKHOLM, — Swedish defence and security company Saab has introduced the Sea Giraffe AMB D, an upgraded naval radar featuring modern hardware, software and processing capabilities. The C-band, multi-channel digital 3D radar uses Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) technology to improve surveillance, early warning and target tracking.
According to Saab, the radar can detect air targets at distances of up to 250 kilometres and surface targets at up to 50 kilometres. It is designed to detect, track and classify aircraft, missiles, helicopters, drones and crewed or uncrewed surface vessels, supporting decision-making in distributed, multi-domain operations.
Tracking and Drone Detection Capabilities
The Sea Giraffe AMB D operates at 60 revolutions per minute, providing tracking updates every second. It can track more than 2,000 targets simultaneously across a search volume exceeding 80 degrees in elevation.
Its specialised Drone Tracker analyses target behaviour and movement to distinguish small, slow and low-flying unmanned aerial vehicles from birds. Other functions include automatic air and surface surveillance, target classification, precision target indication for surface-to-air missiles and gun systems, and navigation support.
Optional capabilities include secondary surveillance radar/identification friend or foe (SSR/IFF), rocket-artillery-mortar detection, and high-resolution surface surveillance with fire-control channels.
Improved Detection and Electronic Protection
The radar's low top-weight design allows its antenna to be mounted higher on a ship's mast, extending the radar horizon and improving opportunities to detect low-altitude threats, including sea-skimming missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles.
It incorporates electronic counter-countermeasures (ECCM) to resist jamming, emission control methods to manage its electronic footprint, and built-in protection against unauthorised access and malware.
Modular Design and Maintenance
The radar uses a software-defined, modular architecture that supports integration with existing naval combat systems and future capability upgrades. Standardised components simplify maintenance, with Saab stating that its mean time to repair is less than 60 minutes, helping maintain operational readiness.
Carl-Johan Bergholm, head of Saab’s Surveillance business area, said the system combines increased performance with a low footprint and an architecture designed for continuous development, allowing navies to adapt to future threats.
The Sea Giraffe AMB D builds on more than 70 years of Saab radar development and over two decades of operational use of earlier Sea Giraffe AMB systems. Saab said its updated hardware and processing capabilities are designed to improve situational awareness in demanding maritime environments, from coastal waters to open-ocean operations. The system was announced on October 27, 2026.
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