Aircraft

Saab has outlined its progress in developing two new military concepts for the Saab 2000 regional airliner, and hopes to build on its previous success in selling an airborne early warning and control derivative to Pakistan.

Additional missions foreseen for the twin-turboprop include maritime patrol and signals intelligence. “There is a strong interest in all the products,” says Matthew Smith, Saab’s director of marketing, airborne surveillance.

The Swedish manufacturer is close to finalising its configuration for a SIGINT version dubbed the Airtracer. To be suitable for communications and electronic intelligence tasks, this would carry electronic support measures and self-protection equipment already integrated with the Saab 2000. “We are trying to bring a mature concept to the market,” says Smith.

© Saab
The signals intelligence variant has been dubbed the Airtracer

Saab could also offer the Airtracer mission suite for use with other aircraft types. It promoted the system at the 8-11 September DSEi exhibition in London.

A maritime patrol derivative is also eyed for missions including anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare, plus surveillance and search and rescue. “We think the 2000 is an ideal maritime patrol platform,” says Smith, citing the type’s extended range and long endurance capability, plus its dash speed of 350kt (647km/h).

© Saab
A maritime patrol version is also being proposed