Successful First Flight for GlobalEye
On 14 March 2014, a few weeks after having been rolled out (story here), Saab successfully completed the first flight of the GlobalEye Airborne Early Warning & Control (AEW&C) aircraft in Linköping, Sweden.
GlobalEye took off on its maiden flight at 12:52h local time on 14 March 2018, 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.
“The first flight is the second major milestone for the GlobalEye programme within a very short space of time,” Anders Carp, Senior Vice President and head of Saab’s business area Surveillance, explained. “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. 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.”
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.
For more on the characteristics and specifications, as well as radar and comms, please see story here.
