Sweden is equipping its army brigades with dedicated ground-based air defense (GBAD) sensors and command-and-control systems under a new contract with Saab, the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) announced on June 2, 2026. The order covers Giraffe AMB radars and LSS Lv command systems, with deliveries scheduled between 2029 and 2030, and is valued at approximately SEK 1.2 billion.
What the brigades are getting
The Giraffe AMB gives brigade-level ground forces a short-to-medium range radar optimized for tracking advanced aerial threats, including ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and fixed-wing aircraft, rather than counter-drone coverage. The LSS Lv integrates the radar’s tracking data with command functions, allowing units to identify threats, assign intercepts, and manage air defense operations without depending on higher-level command infrastructure.
The combination is designed to travel with maneuver units in the field. Saab describes the new systems as building on hardware already delivered to FMV under earlier contracts, meaning Swedish Army brigades will receive upgraded capability within an architecture they already operate.
“We are very proud to contribute to strengthening the ground-based air defense capability of the Swedish Army brigades,” said Carl-Johan Bergholm, head of Saab’s Surveillance business area. “It will enhance their capability to conduct air defense operations and represents an important recognition of our Giraffe AMB and GBAD command-and-control system.”
A different layer from GUTE II
The contract sits above the GUTE II counter-drone package awarded to Saab and BAE Systems Bofors in April 2026, which bundles Giraffe 1X radars, Trackfire weapon stations, and electronic warfare components in a mobile system built to protect territory against drone threats. The Giraffe AMB contract addresses a different threat tier: giving brigades organic protection against the kind of advanced aerial attacks that counter-drone systems are not designed to handle.
Together, the two programs reflect Sweden’s effort to build a layered national GBAD architecture since joining NATO, covering both the proliferating drone threat and more capable adversary air assets.
Saab’s Surveillance business area posted 32% sales growth in the first quarter of 2026, driven by Giraffe family deliveries across multiple customers, with demand running ahead of production capacity. The French Armed Forces placed an order for 17 Giraffe 1X systems in May 2026, adding to a growing international customer base for the radar family.
