Poland signs $58 million deal to buy Saab 340 AEW&C aircraft

Europe, News July 27, 2023 , by IRIA No Comments

Poland has finalized a $58 million (800 million Swedish krona) deal with a Swedish aerospace and defense manufacturer to purchase two Saab 340 Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) aircraft. The deal was signed by Poland’s Ministry of National Defense on July 25, 2023.

The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defense of Poland, Mariusz Blaszczak said in May 2023 that his country was advancing negotiations with the Swedish defense manufacturer for the purchase of new AEW&C aircraft.

On July 25, Blaszczak announced that “Today, the [Polish] Armaments Agency signed a contract for the supply of Swedish Saab 340 early warning aircraft.” Blaszczak added that following the new procurement, “the eastern flank [of] NATO will be strengthened and Polish airspace becomes safer.”

Blaszczak did not disclose the details about the aircraft numbers, or the timeline of aircraft delivery. It is expected that both aircraft would be delivered to Poland before 2025, with the first plane expected to be delivered by early 2024.

The Polish air force currently does not have any AEW&C planes in its fleet. It relies on the NATO Airborne Early Warning Force (NAEWF) that uses Boeing E-3A Sentry Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) aircraft. After acquiring Saab 340 planes, Poland would become one of the few NATO member states that are using the Swedish-made AWE&C planes.

*^{Saab 340 Airborne Early Warning and Control S 100B Argus in flight at the Swedish Armed Forces Airshow 2010. (Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons)}*

Saab’s business area surveillance chief Carl-Johan Bergholm said that “Saab has had a strong relationship with the Polish Ministry of National Defense for many years. We are proud to further strengthen Poland’s Armed Forces with our airborne early warning and network-based solutions.”

According to the company’s statement, “Different configurations of Saab’s Erieye AEW/AEW&C system have been sold to nine countries, making it one of the most widely used airborne surveillance systems in the world.”

Saab 340 AWE&C

Equipped with cutting-edge Erieye radar, Saab 340 AWE&C is based on Saab 340 commercial plane. It is one of the two most profoundly used AWE&C aircraft behind the Boeing E-3. It boasts a 70 feet-wide wing span and a cruising speed of 524 kilometers per hour. The aircraft is powered by two General Electric turboprop engines and has a highly customizable and spacious fuselage.

Apart from conducting AWE&C missions, Saab 340 can also be used as a transportation and cargo support aircraft. The plane has been in production since 1994 and it is operated by several air forces around the world including Sweden, Thailand, Greece, and the United Arab Emirates.

*^{System overview of Saab 2000 Erieye Airborne Early Warning & Control (AEW&C) aircraft. (Image Credit: Saab)}*

In 1998, Saab introduced a stretched version of Saab 340, called Saab 2000. Pakistan Air Force operates 7 Saab 2000 aircraft while Saudi Arabia’s Royal Saudi Air Force also acquired 2 aircraft.

General Characteristics of Saab AWE&C Aircraft