From integrated maritime surveillance to multi-domain command-and-control, Saab is positioning advanced situational awareness at the center of modern defence architectures. At DIMDEX 2026, the Swedish defence major is showcasing how its surveillance, radar and battle management solutions address the region’s evolving security challenges across sea, air and land. In this interview with Defense Arabia, Carl-Johan Bergholm, Head of Saab’s Business Area Surveillance, outlines Saab’s strategic priorities at the exhibition, the growing role of the GlobalEye airborne early warning system, and how next-generation radar technologies are shaping the future of defence in Qatar and the wider Middle East.
Q1: What is Saab’s main focus at DIMDEX this year?
DIMDEX is an important regional platform focused on maritime and joint-domain defence, making it a natural fit for Saab. Our main focus at the show is demonstrating how our advanced surveillance, radar and command-and-control solutions deliver operational superiority across sea, air and land domains.
Here at DIMDEX, we are showcasing GlobalEye as a strategic national asset, alongside our broad portfolio of radar systems designed for air, maritime and ground-based surveillance and defence.
With more than a decade of partnership with Qatar, we are proud to be present at this show to strengthen established relationships while also exploring new avenues for collaboration that support Qatar’s and other potential customers defence priorities and capabilities.
Q2: Why is GlobalEye a central system for Saab at DIMDEX?
GlobalEye is the most advanced airborne early warning and control solution available today and is highly relevant to the maritime and joint-domain focus of DIMDEX. It provides simultaneous air, maritime and ground surveillance from a single platform, enabling decision-makers to maintain situational awareness across vast areas in real time.
During the exhibition, we are showcasing how GlobalEye functions as an early warning system and a command centre, supporting operations in peace, crisis and conflict. Its ability to fuse data from multiple sensors into actionable intelligence makes it a true strategic national asset.
Q3: What new upgrades or improvements can we expect for GlobalEye?
GlobalEye continues to evolve based on operational experience and technological advances. We’ve seen the GlobalEye’s radar range go beyond 650 kilometres, while we have also demonstrated we can add additional sensors to existing configurations thereby demonstrating how we can rapidly extend a customer’s capabilities. Mission endurance is now over 12 hours, providing even greater coverage. The sensor fusion capabilities are continuously enhanced to provide not just raw detection data, but actionable intelligence, automatically correlating threats across domains and prioritising them for operators. We’re also deepening the command-and-control integration, allowing GlobalEye to serve as an even more effective airborne battle management centre. Looking ahead, we foresee expanding production capacity to four systems annually by 2030 to meet growing global demand.
Q4: What radar capabilities is Saab highlighting at DIMDEX 2026?
At DIMDEX, we’re highlighting our advanced radar portfolio designed for multi-role missions and simultaneous air and maritime surveillance. These radars can be deployed on land, at sea or as part of integrated air defence networks, providing flexible and scalable solutions for national security requirements. Most of Saab’s radar systems are software-defined, allowing them to evolve over time as threats change, while maintaining high reliability and availability in demanding operational environments.
Q5: How do Saab’s radar solutions address modern and evolving threats?
Modern threat environments are increasingly complex, with challenges ranging from conventional air and maritime threats to smaller, harder-to-detect targets. Our radar solutions are designed to operate in contested and cluttered environments, delivering accurate detection, tracking and classification across multiple domains simultaneously. Advanced signal processing and sensor fusion reduce operator workload while improving decision-making speed, ensuring forces can respond effectively to both current and emerging threats.
Q5: What makes the Coast Control Radar valuable for countries in the region?
The Coast Control Radar addresses a critical regional need for effective maritime surveillance and protection of coastal infrastructure. It is a next-generation, software-defined system designed specifically for securing the region’s vital waterways and maritime infrastructure. It’s a phased-array system that provides up to 360-degree coverage with lower installation and maintenance costs. The system integrates easily into existing infrastructure and supports dual-use maritime security missions, delivering early detection and improved situational awareness in complex coastal environments.
Q6: How does the Giraffe 1X radar help countries defend against drones and air threats?
Giraffe 1X is specifically designed for the multi-threat environment regional air forces face today. It’s a compact, 3D AESA radar with a 75-kilometer range that simultaneously provides air surveillance, ground-based air defence support, and critically, drone detection. The drone threat has become one of the most challenging issues globally, and Giraffe 1X’s software-based design allows it to detect even small, slow-moving unmanned systems that traditional radars might miss. Despite its compact size, it’s a robust system that can be rapidly deployed for operations and is equally effective as a mobile asset or in fixed installations. It’s threat detection and tracking capabilities reduce operator workload while providing the early warning needed to respond effectively. For countries in this region dealing with evolving aerial threats, Giraffe 1X provides comprehensive protection in a deployable, maintainable package.
Q7: How does Saab plan to strengthen its presence and partnerships in Qatar and the wider Middle East?
Saab has been a trusted partner across the Middle East for decades, and we see Qatar as an important market for long-term, sustainable growth. In Qatar, we are focused on strengthening existing partnerships and working closely with government and industry to support national defence and security priorities.
Here at DIMDEX, we are engaging with partners on how Saab’s capabilities can help protect borders, secure critical national infrastructure and contribute to a safe and resilient society. Our approach is built on long-term collaboration and alignment with Qatar’s National Vision 2030, and we apply the same partnership-driven model across the wider region.
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