Giraffe radar

Saab Sea Giraffe and Giraffe Radar
A Giraffe AMB radar on display at the Paris Air Show, 2007.
Country of originSweden
Introduced1977
No. built450~
TypeEarly warning radar
FrequencyC band/S Band/X band
RPM60
RangeBetween 10 and 470 kilometres (6.2 and 292.0 mi), depending on variant
AltitudeBetween 0 and 40,000 metres (0 and 131,234 ft), depending on variant

The Saab (formerly Ericsson Microwave Systems AB) Giraffe Radar is a family of land and naval two- or three-dimensional G/H-band (4 to 8 GHz) passive electronically scanned array radar-based surveillance and air defense command and control systems. It is tailored for operations with medium- and Short Range Air Defense (SHORAD) missile or gun systems, or for use as gap-fillers in a larger air defense system.

The radar gets its name from the distinctive folding mast which when deployed allows the radar to see over nearby terrain features such as trees, extending its effective range against low-level air targets. The first systems were produced in 1977. By 2007, some 450 units of all types are reported as having been delivered.

The Serbian Military Technical Institute purchased a licence for the Giraffe 75 and is producing a new model with several modifications. The radar is installed on the chassis of FAP 2026, and the Serbian designation is M85 "Žirafa".[1]

A Serbian Army M85 "Žirafa", on the chassis of a FAP 2026

Saab Electronic Defence Systems (EDS) in May 2014 unveiled two new classes of active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar—three land-based systems (Giraffe 1X, Giraffe 4A and Giraffe 8A) and two naval variants (Sea Giraffe 1X and Sea Giraffe 4A) in X- and S-band frequencies—to complement its existing surface radar portfolio.[2]

  1. ^ "Војска Србије - Наоружање Копнене војске - Средства за противваздухопловна дејства - Противавионски топ 40 mm Л/70 БОФОРС". Archived from the original on 10 October 2016. Retrieved 25 December 2014.
  2. ^ "Saab expands surface radar portfolio". Archived from the original on 16 June 2014. Retrieved 9 June 2014.